10 Jazz Albums for a Better fall season
Written by: fiona Hendrickson | november 11, 2025
If you’ve been outside recently you would know, it’s very cold. Some might even forget that it’s still fall right now, and not actually winter. To try and ignore how cold Wisconsin fall is, let’s utilize a component that will make the fall season actually feel more like fall– music. Most can agree that having music on in the background while you traverse through the red and yellow trees will overall increase the “fall vibe.” Jazz is one of the best genres you can turn on while walking through the cool air and somber aesthetic. Perfect for that study session where you look out a window to see the crunchy leaves and the rain, jazz can provide an addition to your cinematic fall.
So, what should you be listening to?
There are so many options out there and you can truly start anywhere, but here’s a nice composite list to start anyone off in the right direction. Play one of these albums to fully immerse yourself in your seasonal surroundings.
1. Manj by Joomanji
An R&B/Soul album released in 2013. It blends smooth, sultry jazz with some strong hip hop elements. As talked about in Issue #174 of Off Your Radar, it was much ahead of its time with “the melding of jazz and hip-hop.” Joomanji is a band that features 3 men, and this album itself took about 2 years to create. It features many other artists and is a 13 track album (17 if you download it from them directly) which runs for about 40 minutes. It feels hand-crafted, and keeps up for a walking pace quite nicely.
Favorite Track: I’m Fine (Interlude) [feat. Austin Antione & Jackie Owens]
2. Quiet Music for Young People by Dana and Alden
Focusing on vintage sounds, Quiet Music for Young People is full of “introductory gems for first-time jazz listeners” according to their interview with BKMag. Released in 2023, it features mostly jazz and an Indie/Jazz fusion. Dana and Alden are brothers from Eugene, Oregon and more recently opened for Benny Sings (another great artist to check out) and The Yussef Dayes Experience. They like to focus on bringing jazz to a very young and innovative generation, and this album does just that. With 11 tracks, it runs for about 34 minutes. Perfect for putting on in the car during your morning commute.
Favorite Track: July 98
3. Seasons by Pete Jolly
This classic jazz album focuses on 12 fully improvised songs, which runs for about 32 minutes. Released in 1970, the sound focused on “atmospheric grooves” as The Sharp Notes describes it. With no vocals, it works great to put on in the background while studying in your favorite coffeeshop. You’ll get a great taste of some older, classic jazz, as this album continues to have a cult following in the jazz community.
Favorite Track: Seasons
4. La Ragazza Fuori Strada by Piero Umiliani
Speaking of some classic oldies, let’s get into it with this one from September of 1973. This album is a movie soundtrack, (La Ragazza Fuoristrada translates into The Off-Road Girl) specifically a sequel to “La ragazza dalla pelle di luna” (or, The Girl with Moon Skin). The movie itself is intimate and thought provoking, and Piero Umiliani, an Italian composer who wrote for over 70 films, helped develop the style of the typical European jazz influenced film soundtrack. This album itself features 12 tracks (24 if you buy it digitally), including alternative takes, instrumentals, original demos, string versions, organ and flute versions, and anything else you could ask for. Ranging from, “spooky” to, “funky” this album will take you into some Italian jazz history.
Favorite Track: Volto di donna – Synth Version
5. Mid Spiral by BADBADNOTGOOD
Instrumental jazz with a focus on cross pollinate genres which follows a simple message. Chaos, Order and Growth. BADBADNOTGOOD is a band which is full of creative energy, and most famous for their song “Time moves slow”. This album, released in 2024 had 3 separate discs on it which come together as 18 songs, coming in at 1 hr and 19 minutes. This album is less in their hip-hop genre and moves more into their instrumental jazz.
Favorite Track: Audacia
6. Swinging Stars by Mapache
Alright, this one is definitely not as jazz, whatever, but still a very strong contender for a fall list. To not appreciate folk under a fall list wouldn’t be right, so I’ll give it credit. Categorized under folk rock / indie folk / Americana, it pairs well with jazz with its mellow vibes. This is your perfect laid-back folk. You want to sit on a rocking chair on a porch and ponder? This is your selection. Made by an artist duo, Mapache released this in 2023 with 14 songs being 52 minutes. Interviewed by Petal Motel, Mapache says “We wanted guitars to be hot and vocals to be raw, so we just threw up some mics and went for it.”
Favorite Track: Reflecting Everything
7. Standing Still In A Moving Scene by Hyakkei (百景)
Japanese drummer and music composer Hyakkei, released in 2006 features a Post-rock sound. Alright, so this isn’t jazz either. I promise this is the last time this will happen. The vibe overall is relaxing while also being energetic, depending on the track you have on. With 12 songs and 45 min, this album is short and sweet for those really cold fall days. Indie rock lovers, this is a relaxing one.
Favorite Track: Hunting
8. Sfere Luminose by Nora Orlandi and Franco Tonani
Italian lounge music featuring vocals from Nora Orlandi. The drum work across this album is captivating with strong bossa nova influences. A taste of refined jazz and Morricone-esque beats (slow, repetitive with a cinematic mood) Good for easy listening with 14 tracks spanning across two discs. Perfect for a fall fantasy and daydreaming.
Favorite Track: È Bene Persistere
9. A Musical Wildlife, Vol 1: Pastoral by Sam Sklair and John Fox
This 16 track album across two discs was recorded in 1974 and is truly a movie made by just music. With 14 tracks this is an album that will take you through a beginning and end. Following a jazz sound all the way through, it will highlight the classic progressions in a story through music alone. Although not every track is for everyone, you are sure to find one that puts you in a trance. Sam Sklair was an avid composer for many wildlife documentaries, and this album takes inspiration from his work while he was the resident composer for many of the wildlife documentaries for Anglia Television’s Survival series.
Favorite Track: High on a Hill
10. It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (Original Soundtrack Recording) by Vince Guaraldi
Let’s end this off with a classic. An album that you can put on during any fall or halloween get together/hangout and everyone will appreciate it. Featuring all the classics you loved while watching It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown while you were still a kid, this album is truly timeless while being infused with childhood nostalgia. Even if you didn’t watch the Charlie Brown Halloween special, you can appreciate Vince Guaraldi’s composition. IndieWire critic Erik Adams praised Guaraldi’s compositions for capturing “the mood and the sensations of the holiday… better than almost any other music,” This album features 24 songs in under 30 minutes but features many alternate takes on favorites. Play this album for any fall party and try to remember each scene. Always a classic.
Favorite Track: Graveyard Theme