Like many jazz musicians who achieve popular status, pianist Vince Guaraldi has at times been disregarded or written off as second-rate, even lightweight, possibly because his music was more accessible and less esoteric than some. However, the attraction of his hugely successful Jazz Impressions Of Black Orpheus and Cast Your Fate To The Wind can’t be ignored, and apparently these were responsible for introducing many youngsters to jazz. It was also the reason for him being asked by TV producer and jazz fan Lee Mendelson to do the music for his 1965 animated TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas, based on Charles M. Schulz’s comic strip Peanuts.
The tracks are generally short and some are accompanied (although uncredited as such) by the children of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Choir of San Rafael, California. These are Hark The Herald Angels Sing, Christmas Time Is Here and My Little Drum, on which the vocals alternate between imitating a snare drum and a heavenly choir.
Guaraldi’s playing is melodic and uplifting, the highlights being the instrumental version of the slightly melancholic slow waltz Christmas Time Is Here and Christmas Is Coming, which like Linus And Lucy has a rolling rhythm with changing patterns, accents and piano lines. The Christmas Song is essentially a solo by Guaraldi, while the uptempo Skating has deft piano runs with Jerry Granelli’s neat brushwork giving an undercurrent of movement.
There is some doubt about the personnel, as Monty Budwig and Colin Bailey were used for the special, Fred Marshall and Jerry Granelli for the album. Although no dates are indicated on the sleeve, the former pair possibly also played on Linus And Lucy, recorded earlier in October 1964. The album itself was recorded in September/October 1965.
The music here is by no means earth-shattering, but it’s attractive, well-played and it’s an album the family might not object to whilst unwrapping presents or munching on a mince pie. The exclusive snowstorm vinyl should also be a talking point. Compliments of the (forthcoming) season to you all.
Discography
O Tannenbaum; What Child Is This; My Little Drum; Linus And Lucy; Christmas Time Is Here (instrumental); Christmas Time Is Here (vocal); Skating; Hark The Herald Angels Sing; Christmas Is Coming; Für Elise; The Christmas Song; Greensleeves (39.54)
Guaraldi (p); Fred Marshall (b); Jerry Granelli (d); Monty Budwig (b) and Colin Bailey (d) on Greensleeves and possibly on Linus And Lucy. San Francisco, October 1964 & September/October 1965.
Fantasy F8431
