Vince Guaraldi

I have a vinyl version of "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" by the Vince Guaraldi Trio -- very nice piano jazz. CDNOW.com has a good selection of Guaraldi records and you can listen to track selections from quite a few of them.

You may also want to check out Dave Brubeck (if you haven't already). He's got a somewhat similar style, just with a bigger band.

 

Have to agree with my wife on this one.

Charlie Brown Christmas is a terrific record. Dave Brubeck (especially the record, Take 5) is the same type of thing just with saxaphone added.

Another CD you might consider checking out is George Winston's "Linus & Lucy: the Music of Vince Guaraldi." Winston is one of my favorites. He is a solo pianist that has always been classified as "new age" but kind of mixes jazz, classical and even some pop sensibilities to his recordings. His album "December" is a must-have for everyone's Christmas collection. While it only has a few actual Christmas songs, it is a beautiful record that really does sound like winter.

Also, you might consider checking out Keith Jarrett. He's a long-time jazz pianist who dabbled in other things. He has a live album I believe called "Live in Oslo" that came out just a few years ago and it is terrific. Similar stuff to Guaraldi with a little more straight ahead jazz.