Vince Guaraldi Trio - A Boy Named Charlie Brown

Styles: Piano Jazz, Soundtrack
Year: 1964
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:49
Size: 98,3 MB
Art: Front

(2:24)  1. Oh, Good Grief
(2:51)  2. Pebble Beach
(3:43)  3. Happiness Is
(1:54)  4. Schroeder
(4:24)  5. Charlie Brown Theme
(3:07)  6. Linus and Lucy
(7:29)  7. Blue Charlie Brown
(3:17)  8. Baseball Theme
(4:38)  9. Freda (With the Naturally Curly Hair)
(8:57) 10. Fly Me to the Moon

Originally titled Jazz Impressions of a Boy Named Charlie Brown, this is an important album not only because it is Guaraldi's first Peanuts soundtrack, but also because the music heard here probably introduced millions of kids (and their parents) to jazz from the mid-'60s onward. Actually, this music is the score for a documentary on the Peanuts phenomenon called A Boy Named Charlie Brown, which ran before the first Peanuts specials per se appeared on the CBS network. The most remarkable thing, besides the high quality of Guaraldi's whimsically swinging tunes, is that he did not compromise his art one iota for the cartoon world; indeed, he sounds even more engaged, inventive, and lighthearted in his piano work here than ever. It must have been quite a delightful shock back then to hear a straight-ahead jazz trio (Guaraldi, Monty Budwig, bass; Colin Bailey, drums) backing all those cartoon figures and genuine children's voices, a mordant running musical commentary that made its own philosophical points. The music on this album laid the groundwork for much that was to come; here is the first appearance of the well-known bossa nova-influenced "Linus and Lucy," and fans of the series will recognize such themes from future episodes as "Baseball Theme" and "Oh, Good Grief" (which is a rewrite of the Dixie Belles' hit "Down at Papa Joe's"). The LP came with 12 bonus lithographs of Charles Schulz's celebrated Peanuts drawings. ~ Richard S.Ginell http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-boy-named-charlie-brown-original-soundtrack-mw0000188138

Personnel: Vince Guaraldi (piano); Monty Budwig (bass); Colin Bailey (drums).

A Boy Named Charlie Brown

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Cal Tjader, Willie Bobo, Mongo Santamaria - Latino!

Styles: Latin Jazz, World Fusion
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:31
Size: 171,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:49)  1. Manila
(3:30)  2. Key Largo
(6:43)  3. Tumbao
(3:04)  4. Bludan
(3:24)  5. Chispita
(3:42)  6. September Song
(3:32)  7. Cal's Pals
(3:26)  8. Para Ti
(4:37)  9. Mamblues
(6:32) 10. Afro Blue
(6:29) 11. Cuban Fantasy
(5:56) 12. Rezo
(4:20) 13. Mambo Terrifico
(8:34) 14. A Night In Tunisia
(4:45) 15. The Continental

Vibraphonist Cal Tjader is heard leading five different groups throughout this set, but the identities of the flutists, bassists, and pianists are less important than knowing that Tjader, Willie Bobo (on drums and timbales), and the great conga player Mongo Santamaria are on every selection. The music really cooks, with torrid percussion, inspired ensembles, and occasional solos from the sidemen (which sometimes include pianists Lonnie Hewitt or Vince Guaraldi, bassist Al McKibbon, and flutist Paul Horn). Highlights include Latinized versions of "Key Largo" and "September Song," "Night in Tunisia," "The Continental," and a definitive version of Santamaria's "Afro Blue." This is Latin jazz at its finest. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/latino-con-cal-tjader-mw0000626426

Personnel:  Vibraphone – Cal Tjader; Backing Band – The Eddie Cano Big Band; Bass – Al McKibbon, Eddie Coleman , Victor Venegas; Congas – Mongo Santamaria; Drums, Timbales – Willie Bobo; Featuring – Al McKibbon, Eddie Cano, José "Chombo" Silva , Lonnie Hewitt, Mongo Santamaria, Paul Horn, Vince Guaraldi, Willie Bobo; Flute – José Lozano, Paul Horn, Rolando Lozano; Flute, Alto Saxophone – Modesto Briseno ; Piano – Eddie Cano, Lonnie Hewitt, Vince Guaraldi Remastered By – Phil De Lancie; Tenor Saxophone – José "Chombo" Silva; Trumpet – Tony Terran 

Latino!

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Cal Tjader - Sentimental Moods

Styles: Vibraphone Jazz
Year: 1958
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:53
Size: 170,5 MB
Art: Front

(2:36)  1. I Should Care
(2:39)  2. Spring Is Here
(2:59)  3. Time Was
(3:17)  4. Star Eyes
(3:16)  5. Stella By Starlight
(4:29)  6. Alone Together
(2:20)  7. Ode To A Beat Generation
(2:39)  8. Skylark
(3:10)  9. Martha
(4:01) 10. Quizas, Quizas, Quizas
(3:25) 11. Running Out
(2:28) 12. Racoon Strait
(3:41) 13. The Last Luff
(4:40) 14. Sigmund Stern Groove
(1:38) 15. Coit Tower
(6:03) 16. Triple T Blues
(4:23) 17. Union Square
(3:47) 18. Skyline Waltz
(3:43) 19. Viva Cepeda
(7:30) 20. The Grant Avenue Suite

Fantasy Records is to be commended for re-releasing so many of their classic Cal Tjader albums in the budget-priced two-for-one CD format, even if Sentimental Moods features one of their odder pairings. The first ten selections are culled from the dreamy mood music album Latin for Lovers (aka Latin for Lovers With Strings), and the final ten are from San Francisco Moods, a lean and mean West Coast jazz ode to his hometown. While these two sessions don't really go together, they do show you the breadth of what Tjader was recording for Fantasy at the time. While the Latin for Lovers selections aren't really Latin jazz (or even "Latin" or "jazz," for that matter), it is superior mood music with fine string arrangements written by Jack Weeks. If all lounge music was this good, the term couldn't be used as an insult. The soloists don't really stretch out at all, but Tjader, pianist Vince Guaraldi, and flutist Paul Horn each make their presence felt on regal, melodic passages. Willie Bobo and Mongo Santamaria are on the session, but unlike their sizzling one-track cameo on the next session's "Viva Cepeda," they are only around to keep strict time. So while the first half of the disc is upscale easy listening, those culled from San Francisco Moods show how underrated Tjader was at mainstream small-group jazz. Tjader starts out the session on piano, but on most tracks his vibraphone skills are given a real chance to shine. Tjader was always a giving group leader and guitarist Eddie Duran and the rest of the quartet are featured prominently. San Francisco Moods is an exhilarating session, one that veers from gritty, hard-swinging romps to uptown "chamber jazz" and back again without a hitch. Cal Tjader had such great success with Latin jazz that listeners and critics have tended to forget that he really was a major part of the cool West Coast jazz scene and that he recorded all kinds of music throughout his career. This CD reissue is a must-have for Cal Tjader fans and one that reminds people how far-reaching the vibraphonist's mainstream musical talent really was. ~ Nick Dedina https://www.allmusic.com/album/sentimental-moods-mw0000646495

Personnel includes: Cal Tjader (vibraphone); Paul Horn, Vince Guaraldi, Al McKibbon, Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, Boris Blinder, Harry Moulin, Frances Wiener, Eugene Winkler, Eddie Duran, John Mosher, Jack Weeks, John Markham. Johnny Horn, Paul Horn (flute); Vince Guaraldi (piano); Mongo Santamaria, Cal Tjader (piano, vibraphone); Eddie Duran (guitar); Franz Wiener, Frances Wiener, Boris Blinder, Harry Moulin, Eugene Winkler John Markham (drums).

Sentimental Moods

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Vince Guaraldi - Essential Standards

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:13
Size: 124.1 MB
Styles: Piano jazz, Mainstream jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[3:31] 1. Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise
[5:16] 2. The Girl From Ipanema
[5:21] 3. Moon River
[3:09] 4. Cast Your Fate To The Wind
[5:17] 5. Willow Weep For Me
[2:48] 6. Fascinating Rhythm
[4:20] 7. Since I Fell For You
[5:25] 8. Days Of Wine And Roses
[5:53] 9. On Green Dolphin Street
[4:23] 10. Autumn Leaves
[3:20] 11. Corcovado
[5:25] 12. Greensleeves

As part of the Essential Standards series from OJC, pianist and composer Vince Guaraldi is spotlighted on 12 tracks recorded for Fantasy in the '50s and '60s. While this compilation contains great performances (several are from Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus and Cast Your Fate to the Wind), it may not be the best place for the casual fan to start. None of Guaraldi's songs associated with the Charlie Brown television cartoon are included, with the exception of the original master take of "Greensleeves." This set would, however, make a fine companion to Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits. ~Al Campbell

Essential Standards mc
Essential Standards zippy

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Stan Getz, Cal Tjader Sextet - Stan Getz With Cal Tjader Sextet

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:30
Size: 97.3 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz, Vibraphone jazz
Year: 1958/2011
Art: Front

[10:58] 1. Ginza Samba
[ 3:57] 2. I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
[ 5:42] 3. For All We Know
[ 8:18] 4. Crow's Nest
[ 3:46] 5. Liz-Anne
[ 4:32] 6. Big Bear
[ 5:15] 7. My Buddy

Stan Getz: tenor saxophone; Cal Tjader: vibraphone; Vince Guaraldi: piano; Eddie Duran: guitar; Scott LaFaro: bass; Billy Higgins: drums.

The presence of Latin and Afro-Cuban enthusiast, vibraphonist Cal Tjader, has created a widespread misconception that Sextet was the album which sparked tenor saxophonist Stan Getz's fascination with Brazilian music and, ultimately, bossa nova. The notion has, over the years, been reinforced by the inclusion of pianist Vince Guaraldi's "Ginza Samba," whose theme statements were played over a samba beat, and which, as plain "Ginza," was the third track on side one of the album's original LP release. During the Stateside bossa nova craze of the early-to-mid-1960s, "Samba" was added opportunistically to the tune's title, and was sequenced as track one, side one on a rerelease of Sextet. It remains in prime position on this 24-bit remastered edition.

The Getz/bossa-gestation idea is, however, fanciful. Aside from the theme statements of "Ginza Samba," Sextet is set in the sumptuously lyrical but altogether "hotter," and firmly US-centric style with which Getz, under the guidance of his manager, Norman Granz, had become a major star by the late 1950s. Getz's Damascene moment came a few years later, via guitarist Charlie Byrd. On a tour of Brazil in 1961, Byrd fell in love with bossa nova; once returned to the US, he sought out Getz, played him the LPs he had brought back from Brazil, and suggested they get together and record their own album in the style. Getz needed no persuading, instantly recognizing that he and bossa nova were made for each other. The result was Getz and Byrd's Jazz Samba (Verve, 1962), plus, in due course, its hit single "Desafinado" (and, over the years, Byrd's acrimonious, and finally successful, pursuit of Getz for a bigger slice of the royalties pie).

A case could, more credibly, be made for Sextet as an album which later reignited Getz's interest in recording with a vibraphonist, following Hamp And Getz (Clef), made with Lionel Hampton in 1955. In 1964, at the height of the bossa boom, Gary Burton joined Getz's band, with which he toured and, in 1964, recorded the album Nobody Else But Me (only released, on Verve, 30 years later). Video footage of Getz and Tjader together does not exist, but Sextet's vibraphone connection provides an excuse to enjoy some wonderfully cheesy US TV footage of the Getz/Burton group (see the second YouTube clip below).

Getz and Tjader had known each other since the early 1950s. Tjader, as a member of pianist George Shearing's group, had been on the February 12, 1954 tour bus journey from Portland to Seattle, at the conclusion of which Getz was arrested for trying to score some heroin by attempting to rob a drug store. The two had long planned to record together, but the opportunity did not arise until their separate touring schedules coincidentally had them both in San Francisco on February 8, 1958, when they recorded Sextet for the Fantasy label. Granz, normally highly protective of his artists, allowed Getz to make the date because, the year before, Fantasy had loaned alto saxophonist Paul Desmond to Granz's Clef label for a quartet record with baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan.

Getz and Tjader each brought two colleagues to the session. Tjader brought pianist Guaraldi and guitarist Eddie Duran. Getz brought two precociously talented 21 year olds, bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Billy Higgins. Both were on the cusp on stardom; LaFaro with pianist Bill Evans' trio, Higgins as a member of alto saxophonist Ornette Coleman's iconoclastic "free" group.

With a lineup like that, you would expect Sextet to make for prime listening, and, indeed, it does. Most OJC reissues include additional material in the shape of unreleased tracks or alternate takes. Sextet does not, because the session went so swimmingly (it was completed in around three hours) that legend holds that second takes were not necessary. Intriguingly, however, critic Ralph Gleason, who was in the studio for the last hour or so, wrote that "no tune, except two, had more than one take and even then it was a tossup as to which to use."

If second takes of such quality were recorded and were still extant in 2011, OJC's remaster would, presumably, include them. The likelihood is that the tapes containing them have been long lost. But no matter. Over the course of its 43 minutes' playing time, Sextet—though not the prologue to Getz's bossa nova—proffers ample delights. ~Chris May

Stan Getz With Cal Tjader Sextet mc
Stan Getz With Cal Tjader Sextet zippy

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Cal Tjader Quartet - Jazz At The Blackhawk

Styles: Vibraphone Jazz 
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:04
Size: 103,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:56)  1. Bill B.
(4:06)  2. Land's End
(6:15)  3. I'll Remember April
(4:42)  4. Blues In The Night
(3:43)  5. Thinking Of You, MJQ
(3:39)  6. I've Never Been In Love Before
(5:15)  7. Two For Blues Suite
(4:55)  8. When The Sun Comes Out
(4:29)  9. Lover, Come Back To Me

Latin jazz collectors note: the title emphatically is Jazz at the Blackhawk, and even the most determined listener will not find an iota of Cal Tjader's explorations of Latin rhythms here. In its place, we get a sturdy set of bop-flavored workouts by Tjader's expert quartet, recorded live in San Francisco's famous long-defunct nightspot. Tjader himself often sounds like Milt Jackson as he handles the mallets fluidly through a set of standards, a pair of originals by himself and his wife, and appropriately enough a witty Baroque-like tune by his pianist Vince Guaraldi called "Thinking of You, MJQ." Eugene "The Senator" Wright (bass) and Al Torre (piano) make up the bop rhythm section, and as long as you know what you're getting, a good time can be had. ~ Richard S.Ginell http://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-at-the-blackhawk-mw0000203638

Personnel: Cal Tjader (vibraphone); Vince Guaraldi (piano); Gene Wright (bass); Al Torre (drums).

Jazz At The Blackhawk

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David Benoit - Here's To You, Charlie Brown: 50 Great Years!

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:54
Size: 96,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:06)  1. Linus and Lucy
(4:18)  2. Charlie Brown Theme
(4:38)  3. Pebble Beach
(4:30)  4. Linus Tells Charlie
(4:34)  5. Frieda
(5:17)  6. Christmas Time Is Here
(3:08)  7. Getting Ready
(4:05)  8. Blue Charlie Brown
(4:28)  9. Red Baron
(3:47) 10. Happiness

An album of Peanuts-related music performed by David Benoit is a no-brainer, not only because of the retirement and death of Charles Schultz, who drew the comic strip, but also because Benoit has in recent years taken over writing the music for the ongoing series of shows, which were scored originally by Vince Guaraldi. Benoit emphasizes his predecessor by devoting seven of the album's ten tracks to Guaraldi compositions. Unfortunately, he begins with one of those exercises in necrophilia that is usually the province of the less-talented progeny of great singers, overdubbing a few of his own unnecessary noodlings on the original recording of "Linus and Lucy." Fortunately, things improve after that, as the trio of Benoit, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Peter Erskine is joined by a series of high-profile guest musicians: guitarist Marc Antoine on "Pebble Beach" and "Red Baron"; trumpeter Chris Botti on Benoit's "Linus Tells Charlie"; saxophonist Michael Brecker on "Freda"; and guitarist Russell Malone on "Blue Charlie Brown." Despite the spring release date, the inclusion of the near-standard "Christmas Time Is Here" is inevitable, and here it's sung by Take 6. In an inspired move, the album closes with Al Jarreau's winsome take on "Happiness," a song from the stage musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. All in all, this is a pleasant, if minor, addition to Benoit's catalog. ~ William Ruhlmann http://www.allmusic.com/album/heres-to-you-charlie-brown-50-great-years%21-mw0000061082

Personnel: David Benoit (piano); Al Jarreau, Take 6 (vocals); Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone); Chris Botti (trumpet); Vince Guaraldi (piano); Marc Antoine, Russell Malone (guitar); Christian McBride (bass); Peter Erskine (drums).

Here's To You, Charlie Brown: 50 Great Years!

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Vince Guaraldi - The Latin Side Of Vince Guaraldi

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:07
Size: 73,8 MB
Art: Front

(2:56)  1. Mr. Lucky
(4:08)  2. What Kind Of Fool Am I?
(3:24)  3. Corcovado
(4:16)  4. Work Song
(3:03)  5. Treat Streat
(3:39)  6. Star Song
(3:54)  7. Whirlpool
(2:54)  8. Dor Que Faz Doer
(3:48)  9. Brasilia

The Latin side for Vince Guaraldi means a brush with both the Brazilian and Caribbean strains of Latin jazz, garnished now and then by an outboard string quartet and graced by four of his own delightful tunes. On Brazilian numbers like "Corcovado" and Brazilian-treated tunes like "Mr. Lucky" and Guaraldi's lovely "Star Song," Vince has drummer Jerry Granelli deploy his distinctive brushes-and-rim-shots bossa nova beat. Jack Weeks supplies bittersweet string arrangements as he tries to grant Guaraldi's wish for a "Villa-Lobos sound," which he does, more or less. Other tunes, like Guaraldi's own happy-go-lucky "Treat Street," "Whirlpool," and Nat Adderley's "Work Song," are treated to gentle cha-cha rhythms. Guaraldi's piano is hauntingly melodic, impulsively swinging, and unmistakable for anyone else's, and the sound is much improved over the LP issue especially in the case of the strings, which sound less seedy on the CD. ~ Richard S. Ginell  http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-latin-side-of-vince-guaraldi-mw0000183601

Personnel: Vince Guaraldi (piano); Eddie Duran (guitar); Fred Marshall (bass); Jerry Granelli (drums); Bill Fitch (congas); Benny Velarde (timbales).

The Latin Side Of Vince Guaraldi

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Vince Guaraldi - The Very Best Of Vince Guaraldi

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:44
Size: 134.5 MB
Styles: West Coast jazz, Piano jazz
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[3:04] 1. Cast Your Fate To The Wind
[4:32] 2. El Matador
[3:27] 3. Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise
[5:24] 4. Ginza
[2:59] 5. Treat Street
[4:57] 6. Django
[3:06] 7. Linus And Lucy
[3:54] 8. The Lady's In Love With You
[4:45] 9. Star Song
[2:53] 10. Outra Vez
[5:50] 11. Manha De Carnaval
[4:19] 12. Charlie Brown Theme
[3:25] 13. Christmas Is Coming
[6:02] 14. Christmas Time Is Here

As part of Concord Jazz's Very Best of series, pianist and composer Vince Guaraldi is spotlighted on 14 tracks recorded in the '60s. This set is aimed at the casual listener, highlighting Guaraldi's renditions of standards such as "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise," and "The Lady's in Love with You." Two bossa nova-influenced cuts are taken from Guaraldi's album Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus featuring the Luiz Bonfá and Antonio Carlos Jobim composition "Manhã de Carnaval," and the surprise hit off the album, "Cast Your Fate to the Wind," which was written by Guaraldi and initially used to fill out the album to make it the appropriate length for the medium. It would be impossible to have a Guaraldi compilation without the mandatory inclusion of music he created for the animated Charlie Brown TV specials. In this case, the Peanuts gang is represented by four tracks: "Linus & Lucy," "Charlie Brown Theme," "Christmas Is Coming," and "Christmas Time Is Here." Throughout, Guaraldi is backed by his standard rhythm section of the era, drummer Colin Bailey and bassist Monty Budwig, while Brazilian guitarist extraordinaire Bola Sete is featured on "El Matador." This is a decent budget-line collection, but the better choice is the double-disc, 31-track compilation The Definitive Vince Guaraldi on Fantasy. ~Al Campbell

The Very Best Of Vince Guaraldi

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Conte Candoli All Stars - Little Band, Big Jazz

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 28:39
Size: 65.6 MB
Styles: Trumpet jazz, Bop
Year: 1960/2008
Art: Front

[4:03] 1. Muggin' The Minor
[4:57] 2. Mambo Diane
[5:02] 3. Countin' The Blues
[3:58] 4. Zizanie
[5:07] 5. Macedonia
[5:31] 6. Little David

Conte Candoli (tp), Buddy Collette (ts), Vince Guaraldi (p), Leroy Vinnegar (b), Stan Levey (d).

For the first time on CD. Opportunities to lead his own record date have been surprisingly rare through the years for the talented bop trumpeter Conte Candoli. This obscure LP is one of only two albums Candoli headed during 1958-84! Candoli teams up with other West Coast players of the era (tenor saxophonist Buddy Collette, pianist Vince Guaraldi, bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Stan Levey) for six of his fairly basic originals including such numbers as "Muggin' the Minor," "Mambo Diane" and "Countin' the Blues."

Little Band, Big Jazz

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Bill Holman - Jazz Erotica

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:28
Size: 95,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:35)  1. Way Down Under
(4:22)  2. Blue Jazz
(4:00)  3. Angel Eyes
(3:21)  4. Stella By Starlight
(4:33)  5. Star Eyes
(4:28)  6. I Hadn't Anyone Till You
(3:45)  7. Linger Awhile
(4:40)  8. Things We did Last Summer
(4:06)  9. If You Were No One
(4:35) 10. Indiana

Richie Kamuca recorded less than a dozen dates as a leader prior to his death (one day shy of his 47th birthday) in 1977, and this long out of print LP release by HiFi in 1959 may be the hardest one to find. The tenor saxophonist leads a strong octet, with trombonist Frank Rosolino, trumpeters Conte Candoli and Ed Leddy, pianist Vince Guaraldi, bassist Monte Budwig, drummer Stan Levey, and baritone saxophonist Bill Holman, who wrote the arrangements, too. The charts are good examples of cool jazz and feature rich ensembles behind the soloists, especially on standards like "Angel Eyes" and "Indiana." "Blue Jazz" (oddly credited to the leader on the label but Holman in the liner notes) and a brisk "Stella By Starlight" feature Kamuca in a stripped-down setting with the rhythm section. Expect to pay a premium price for this LP. ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-erotica-mw0000897741

Personnel: Richie Kamuca (tenor saxophone); Bill Holman (baritone saxophone); Conte Candoli, Ed Leddy (trumpet); Frank Rosolino (trombone); Vince Guaraldi (piano); Stan Levey (drums

Jazz Erotica

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Vince Guaraldi Trio - A Charlie Brown Christmas

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 44:08
Size: 101.1 MB
Styles: Holiday
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[5:05] 1. O Tannenbaum
[2:21] 2. What Child Is This
[3:08] 3. My Little Drum
[3:02] 4. Linus And Lucy
[6:02] 5. Christmas Time Is Here (Inst)
[2:42] 6. Christmas Time Is Here
[2:22] 7. Skating
[1:51] 8. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
[3:24] 9. Christmas Is Coming
[1:02] 10. Für Elise
[3:14] 11. The Christmas Song
[5:25] 12. Greensleeves
[2:25] 13. Great Pumpkin Waltz
[1:58] 14. Thanksgiving Theme

Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz called on pianist extraordinaire Vince Guaraldi and his trio to compose and perform music that would reflect the humor, charm, and innocence of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the entire Peanuts gang for their 1965 Christmas TV special. It was a perfect match: Guaraldi strings together elegant, enticing arrangements that reflect the spirit and mood of Schulz's work and introduce contemporary jazz to youngsters with grace, charm, and creativity. "What Child Is This" touches on cool jazz's richly textured percussive nuances, while "The Christmas Song" reflects Christmas' relaxing, mellow moments. The renowned "Linus and Lucy" gives the Peanuts characters a fresh, energetic feel with its tantalizing meter changes, brilliant percussion, and dashing, humorous piano lines. "Christmastime Is Here," perhaps the album's most endearing and eloquent moment, is six minutes of soft, lullaby-like melodic and percussive flavors. This collection of soul-soothing melodies would not be complete without the romantic gem "Skating," which blends musical references to falling snowflakes with the dashing feel of swing. Finally, the uplifting, emotionally stirring swing tune "Christmas Is Coming" really brings the listener into the joyous light of the Christmas spirit. Fred Marshall's alluring walking basslines and drummer Jerry Granelli's hauntingly beautiful brush work give most of the album a warm foundation, while Monty Budwig and Colin Bailey shine through with eminent dexterity on bass and drums on "Greensleeves." As for Guaraldi, his penetrating improvisational phrases paint pictures of the first winter snowfall, myriad glistening trees, and powdery white landscapes. With its blend of contemporary jazz and lyrical mannerisms, A Charlie Brown Christmas is a joyous and festive meditation for the holiday season. ~Shawn M. Haney

A Charlie Brown Christmas

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