“The Christmas Song,” often known by its opening line about chestnuts roasting on an open fire, was written by Mel Tormé and Bob Wells in 1945. Nat King Cole’s recordings made it a holiday classic, and it’s now one of the most performed Christmas songs ever, especially at jazz and lounge gigs during the holiday season.
The form is a 32-bar AABA. It’s often played in Eb or C major. The harmony is rich and jazzy, full of ii-V progressions, secondary dominants and a gorgeous move to the IV chord. The A sections move gracefully from the tonic through the iii, vi, ii and V chords, with chromatic passing chords along the way. The bridge shifts toward a new key area before a ii-V brings the tune home.
For improvisation, think like a ballad player. Use chord tones and gentle melodic decoration, and highlight the secondary dominants with their thirds. The melody has many long notes, so you can fill the gaps with short responses. If you play it at a medium swing, bebop lines over the ii-Vs fit well, but keep the warm holiday mood in mind.
Practice by learning the melody from Nat King Cole’s recording, then playing it in Eb and C. Pianists should practice lush voicings with extensions (9ths and 13ths). Singers’ accompanists should know an introduction and ending, since this tune is often played as a standalone feature.
Common mistake: rushing. This is a warm, cozy ballad, so take your time and let each phrase breathe.
Gig tip: singers often call this in different keys, so practice the turnaround and the bridge in at least two keys before the holiday season starts.
Recordings to study: Nat King Cole’s 1961 stereo version, Mel Tormé’s own recordings and instrumental jazz versions by trios and guitarists. Learn more about the composer on Mel Tormé’s Wikipedia page, and find more holiday jazz lead sheets on Minedit.