Benoit’s relationship with Charlie Brown goes all the way back to childhood, too. A devoted reader of Charles M. Schulz’s comic strip, he was captivated by the jazz soundtrack when A Charlie Brown Christmas debuted in 1965. Benoit recalled that hearing Guaraldi’s piano trio was “the defining moment when I decided that I wanted to play like Vince Guaraldi.” His own recording of “Linus and Lucy” on the 1985 album This Side Up helped introduce Guaraldi’s music to a new generation of contemporary jazz listeners. It also opened the door to a lasting relationship with Schulz and Lee Mendelson, the longtime producer of the Peanuts television specials. Benoit subsequently composed music for numerous Peanuts television productions between 1989 and 2006 and contributed to the 2015 film The Peanuts Movie. Imagine growing up loving Charlie Brown and Vince Guaraldi’s music, then getting the opportunity to become part of that musical legacy yourself!

Christmas music has been a recurring theme throughout Benoit’s recording career. His first holiday album, Christmastime, appeared in 1983, followed by Remembering Christmas in 1996, 40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas in 2005, Believe with vocalist Jane Monheit in 2015, and It’s a David Benoit Christmas! in 2020. Interestingly, Benoit’s early recording of “Christmas Time Is Here” helped bring him to Mendelson’s attention in the first place. Looking back on that connection, Benoit has said, “that song is very important to me.”

The new 14-track recording, originally commissioned by the Mendelson family, gives Benoit an opportunity to showcase another side of his considerable musical talents. Rather than concentrating on his piano performances, he steps onto the conductor’s podium to bring new orchestral dimensions to familiar favorites including “Christmas Is Coming,” “Skating,” “O Tannenbaum,” “Christmas Time Is Here,” and, of course, “Linus and Lucy.” The collection also ventures beyond Christmas with music from It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, along with “Just Like Me,” a Benoit original co-written with Mendelson. Following a successful kidney transplant in 2023, Benoit has returned to music with renewed energy, making this recording an especially meaningful chapter in his career. Yet despite his decades of contributions to the Peanuts musical legacy, Benoit remains quick to give credit where it belongs: “Of course, the real focus is on Vince Guaraldi. He’s the one.” I couldn’t agree more. What Guaraldi created for a little animated Christmas special in 1965 became something far greater than anyone could have imagined. And thanks to musicians like David Benoit, that music continues to find new audiences and new life.

The post David Benoit’s Vince Guaraldi Holiday Symphony (2026) appeared first on ContemporaryJazz.com.

Lakecia Benjamin – “The Christmas Song”

Lakecia Benjamin has released her rendition of “The Christmas Song” featuring vocalist Christie Dashiell. Both artists are nominated for GRAMMY® Awards and this is their first collaboration.

♫ Listen to “The Christmas Song” on YouTube

Kevin Brown – Adventus

Contemporary guitarist Kevin Brown brings a modern, atmospheric touch to sacred seasonal music with Adventus, a project shaped around the traditional four weeks of Advent – a period historically meant for quiet reflection and preparation rather than the busyness the holidays often bring. Drawing on his study of Medieval music and experience in liturgical traditions, Brown revisits ancient melodies and carols associated with Advent, giving them fresh life through warm contemporary jazz settings. Some selections will feel familiar, while others are centuries old and less commonly heard, offering listeners a blend of comfort and discovery. Brown’s hope is to create space for reflection and new memories during the season, using very old music to inspire new moments of joy.

♫ Listen to Adventus on YouTube

April Varner – Winter Songs Vol. 2

April Varner brings her bright, expressive vocal style to a full-length holiday album that balances nostalgia with fresh, clever arranging. Joined by Ulysses Owens Jr., Yasushi Nakamura, Luther Allison, Leandro Pellegrino, and The Sunhouse Singers, Varner moves easily from Andrews Sisters-style harmonies on “Jingle Bells” to a mystical, layered rendition of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” arranged by Theo Bleckmann. The album keeps familiar songs feeling alive through rhythmic twists like a “Poinciana” take on “A Holly Jolly Christmas” and a backbeat-driven “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” Varner’s genuine love for the season shines throughout, making this one of the year’s most joyful new Christmas jazz offerings.

♫ Listen to Winter Songs Vol. 2 on YouTube

Swinging In The Holidays – Various Artists

The debut compilation from Songbook Ink, Swinging In The Holidays brings together an impressive roster of next generation and established vocalists, including Anaïs Reno, Lucy Wijnands, Olivia Chindamo, Champian Fulton, Benny Benack, and more, supported by ensembles such as the Konrad Paszkudzki Trio and Felix Peikli Quartet with strings. Suzanne Waldowski curates the project with a clear vision: fresh arrangements of beloved classics that feel new without straying too far from tradition. Available in multiple formats (from 12 to 18 tracks), the album’s lively mix of voices and styles makes it an enjoyable, well matched holiday compilation.

Stella Cole – “Merry Christmas, Darling”

Stella Cole is a rising 26-year-old jazz vocalist known for her vintage style, a large social media following, and a sound often compared to Laufey and Michael Buble. Richard Carpenter has even said he has “been waiting fifty-five years for a fresh take” on the song and that Cole “knocks it out of the park.” She brings that warm, classic approach to her take on the Carpenters’ “Merry Christmas, Darling,” produced by Matt Pierson with an elegant arrangement from Alan Broadbent. Cole captures the emotional softness of the original without imitation, adding her own clarity and charm. Already beloved for her interpretations of American Songbook standards, she adds a heartfelt holiday entry that reflects the sweetness and quiet ache at the core of the season.

♫ Listen to “Merry Christmas, Darling” on YouTube

Emmaline – The Christmas Album

Emmaline released her first full holiday album, The Christmas Album, in late November 2025. The record leans into her vintage-influenced vocal style with lush arrangements that blend retro swing and modern jazz sensibility. Her version of “‘Zat You, Santa Claus?” gives the project a playful lift, while the rest of the album shows a warmer, more polished side of her sound. It’s a thoughtful, charming addition to this year’s holiday jazz offerings.

♫ Listen to “‘Zat You, Santa Claus?”on YouTube

The post New Holiday Jazz Roundup 2025 appeared first on ContemporaryJazz.com.

Top Contemporary Jazz for the
Week of December 3, 1999:

1. Kenny G, Faith: A Holiday Album
2. Fourplay, Snowbound
3. Kenny G, Classics in the Key of G
4. Windham Hill Jazz Artists, A Jazz Noel
5. Hiroshima, Between Black and White
6. Dave Koz, The Dance
7. Take 6, We Wish You A Merry Christmas
8. Various Instinct Label Artists, This Is Smooth Jazz 
9. Yada Yada, Fingalikkin’ Good
10. Brian Culbertson, Somethin’ About Love

Listen to music from these recordings on this YouTube playlist or on Apple Music:

The post Top Contemporary Jazz – December 3, 1999 appeared first on ContemporaryJazz.com.