The Jazz that opens the year - 5 collector albums for the middle of winter

January is the month that opens the year, a time that for some of us comes with new resolutions and fresh ambitions. For others, it is just another month like any other, carrying us along the unpredictable flow of life. Regardless of how we relate to it, January is both the heart of winter and the starting point of the Gregorian calendar. It blends into the period that follows the main holidays of the season, Christmas and New Year’s Eve, while the cold settles in across many parts of the world.

The winter solstice has passed and the days slowly but surely begin to grow longer. Routines return to normal, and many people feel what is often called the January blues, a drop in energy and motivation, a shift in mood that follows the rest and connection experienced at the end of the previous year.

For these moments of change and uncertainty, we’ve curated a selection of jazz to guide you into the new year with renewed strength and joy. Music that keeps the soul cozy and works like a dose of vitamins for those cold days.

1.The Singers Unlimited – Four Of Us

A vocal jazz album with pop influences, full of warm and refined harmonies, perfect for a chilly winter afternoon. It’s a record where the voices weave together gently, relaxing the atmosphere and inviting reflection. The intimate and comforting sound unfolds like a good conversation shared with loved ones, ideal for the start of the year.

Dutch pressing from 1973, MPS Records – an independent German label known for top-tier pressings, a collector’s item for vocal jazz lovers

2.Michael Franks – The Art Of Tea

The Art of Tea is the kind of album that doesn’t demand your attention, but effortlessly earns it. Michael Franks presents a refined vocal jazz style with clear influences from soft rock, jazz pop, and a very slow, almost seductive kind of funk. Everything flows in a relaxed manner, the vocals are calm, slightly detached, almost conversational, and the arrangements are airy, delicate, and well balanced. It is not demonstrative jazz, but rather mood jazz. Perfect for January, when the pace slows down and you need music that keeps you company without rushing you.

European pressing from 1985, Reprise Records – a legendary label, a special album

3.Clark Terry – Clark After Dark, The Ballad Artistry Of Clark Terry

Clark After Dark is an album that offers a magical blend of ballad jazz, big band, and orchestral jazz, with mature and nuanced performances. On this record, Clark Terry, known as one of the great trumpet and flugelhorn players in swing and bebop jazz, is joined by a full orchestra, resulting in a rich sound full of textures and exceptional harmonies.

The album features 10 songs performed at slow and medium tempos, with interpretations focused on expressiveness, lyricism, and a nocturnal atmosphere, from tracks like “Misty” or “Georgia on My Mind” to more melancholic ballads such as “Willow Weep for Me” or “Yesterdays”. It is just right for a cold January.

High quality German pressing from 1978, MPS Records – a collector’s album

4.Al Jarreau – We Got By

A modern vocal jazz album with clear influences of soul, R&B, and slow funk, from one of the most expressive performers in the genre. We Got By combines warm phrasing, fluid vocal lines, and a deep yet relaxed delivery that maintains its elegance without becoming stiff. The rhythms are finely calibrated, and the overall atmosphere has an urban, intimate, and comforting vibe. It is an ideal choice for the beginning of the year, a gentle kind of music that lifts your spirits without pushing too hard, in tune with the inner rhythm of a balanced winter.

Solid German pressing from 1983, Reprise Records

5.Working Week – Working Nights

A bold and innovative debut album from the British trio Working Week, Working Nights blends multiple influences into a smooth fusion of acid jazz, jazz funk, soul jazz, and jazz pop crossover. The record carries that elegant sound typical of Virgin Records during its golden era. It combines sophisticated urban grooves with sensitive vocal lines and jazzy arrangements featuring brass sections, subtle electric guitar, and rich percussion.

It is the kind of record that offers good energy and a feeling of new beginnings, with a moderate but steady pulse that gives you the sense that things are slowly coming back to life after the stillness of the holidays. Working Nights is an excellent choice to kick off the year.

Good quality European pressing from 1985, Virgin Records

All albums featured in this article were in stock at the time of publication.