Vince Guaraldi Trio - A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Original Sound Track Recording Of The CBS Television Special
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Free Music Notes for A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Original Sound Track Recording Of The CBS Television Special
Free Music Review: Give yourself a merry little Christmas now !!!
Hit: 5 Stars
On this CD The Vince Guaraldi Trio performs great music from the sound track of the children's Christmastime TV special, A Charlie Brown Christmas. You can't go wrong with Vince Guaraldi on piano, Monty Budwig and Fred Marshall on bass with Colin Bailey and Jerry Granelli on drums. Sublime!
"O Tannenbaum" starts with a moving piano solo which then blends into a jazzy rendition of this classic piece. "What Child Is This" boasts a sensitive musical arrangement emphasizing piano and drums to produce a somewhat melancholy sounding piece of music. "My Little Drum" is the first track on this CD to feature the children's choir; and they perform flawlessly. "Linus And Lucy" is Vince Guaraldi jazz at its finest; this music always reminds me of the scene in the animated TV special in which Snoopy dances on top of the piano!
There are also two versions of "Christmas Time Is Here." The first rendition is strictly instrumental and very beautiful; the second version offers us the children's choir again. The children sing about the Christmas holiday and how people celebrate this time of year. The choir also does an amazing job with "Hark The Herald Angels Sing;" I was very moved by this song.
The classical music on this CD provides a pleasant surprise. The Vince Guaraldi Trio performs both "Für Elise" by Beethoven and "Greensleeves" which is an old English ballad by an unknown composer.
Ralph J. Gleason contributes an essay in the liner notes for this CD. Moreover, the CD reproduces crisp, sharp music even though it was recorded decades ago
Overall, this CD is a nostalgic, beautifully arranged set of musical numbers to accompany the children's Christmastime TV special entitled A Charlie Brown Christmas. The music is performed with a special sensitivity that I rarely hear. I highly recommend this CD for people who want to remember Christmastimes when life seemed so much simpler because our parents were always there to protect us. This is also a great CD for jazz enthusiasts who want to experience a little Christmas spirit right now, too.
SMILE
Free Music Review: An all-time Christmas classic!
Hit: 5 Stars
Thanks (so much) to the timeless annual television special which delights us each December, it's difficult to find a collection of songs which touch the inner child in quite the way A Charlie Brown Christmas does. The late Vince Guaraldi's brilliant interpretations of these holiday standards are borderline genius---tailor-made to reflect the Peanuts characters' pursuit of integrity and meaning as adults trapped inside little children. As good a true jazz piano record as anyone will find, this treasure chest echoes of many happy Christmases past, and warms the heart and soul like nothing before or since.There simply aren't enough positive adjectives to describe this soundtrack. I wholeheartedly recommend it to all---those who fondly remember the TV special and look forward to its return every year; those who desire to add a slightly different flavor to their yuletide music collection; and those who enjoy fine jazz, by an artist whose immense talent was barely realized, but fortunately captured here. And pardon the cliche', but like a fine holiday wine, this one only betters as it ages. Drink it in as it rekindles your most joyous childhood memories.
STAR TRACKS: Classic carols "O Tannenbaum," "What Child Is This" (extended later on the album as its traditional "Greensleeves"), and "The Christmas Song" each are delivered in a style unlike any holiday chestnuts, but "My Little Drum," a lovely interpretation of "The Little Drummer Boy," is a far more stirring rendition than the famous original it borrows from. "Christmas Is Coming" and the ebullient "Linus and Lucy" are spirited, youthful celebrations guaranteed to raise a smile on anyone, anywhere, at anytime. But for pure imagistic splendor, the beautifully desolate "Christmas Time Is Here" (performed twice, once with a small children's choir) and the colorful "Skating" may be the album's most evocative numbers, transporting the listener into the story's animated world which every one of these enchanting songs so perfectly support.
Free Music Review: An American Tradition
Hit: 5 Stars
While the late pianist Vince Guaraldi had a huge hit in 1962 with "Cast Your Fate to the Wind," the man will forever be associated with Charlie Brown and the Peanuts Gang, especially for the score to the TV special A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS.
Airing on network television every year since its 1965 premiere, A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS is one of the few holiday programs highlighting the true meaning and worth of the Christmas season, and has become an American institution. It has also served another purpose: introducing generations of kids to the thrill and magic of jazz music.
In addition to updating some of the best traditional classics ("O Tannenbaum," "What Child Is This," "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing," "Greensleeves"), as well as an instrumental version of Mel Torme's "The Christmas Song" (that actually is most popularly known in its Nat King Cole version as "Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire"), and a smidgen of Beethoven's "Fur Elise," Guaraldi put together some elegant and uplifting arrangements:
-"Skating" is an evocative piece that takes the listener out gliding across the ice, through a light snowfall.
-"Christmas Is Coming," a wonderful hybrid of bossa nova and California cool, which goes far in interpreting the Season's excitement and anticipation.
-The soft, lullaby-like "Christmas Time Is Here," which, in my opinion, happens to be one of the most soothing songs in the history of popular music.
-And, of course, "Linus and Lucy." Easily one of the most recognizable tunes the world over.
Vince Guaraldi would score a total of 15 Peanuts specials, most of them with TV producer Lee Mendelson. Passing away in 1976, at the age of 47, Guaraldi never truly realized the enduring appeal of his scores or their influence on fellow jazz musicians like David Benoit (who continues Guaraldi's work for Peanuts' features), Dave Brubeck, Wynton Marsalis, and Christian McBride--all of whom have made concept albums based upon Peanuts' themes and characters.
Free Music Review: One of THE best Christmas cd's ever!
Hit: 5 Stars
With his typical jazzy style, the late Vince Guaraldi hit it big with "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Guarldi composed and performed all of The Peanuts tunes. You'll recognize many of the songs. This is a great Holiday cd. Not too kiddish, not too jazzy - it's just really soothing and alot of fun! It instantly transports me back to my childhood Christmases, so full of magic and excitment. The Guaraldi Trio's (Guaraldi on piano, Monty Budwig on bass and Colin Bailey on drums) smooth yet crisp sound, epitomize the childhood dream of Christmas with this cd. I think that's one reason I love it so much. It's such a nice reminder of yesteryear. In addition to the ever-recognizable Linus and Lucy, Christmas Time Is Here, Skating, Fur Elise, O Tanenbaum, and Hark The Herald Angel's Sing, there are several carols included (in the awesome Vince Guaraldi style)...What Child Is This, My Little Drum (essentially the Little Drummer Boy), The Christmas Song, and a longer version of What Child Is This, also known as Greensleeves. This cd will provide many hours of great listening, for kids and adults alike.My brother and I grew up with this and still, to this day, we always listen to the cd and watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Now that I have a nephew, I can't wait until we can introduce him to these Holiday classics. It's amazing to think that children of this generation will also grow up knowing and loving the Peanut's gang and Guaraldi's music. What a joy for them!
This is one of my all-time favorite Christmas cd's. In fact, if I had to pick only one cd for the Holiday Season, it would be this one. Would make a great gift for anyone and I usually give several as gifts each year!
So, pop this in your cd player, kick back, and the Spirit of Christmas will come knocking on your heart's door :-)
Free Music Review: Still the best Christmas Album Ever...
Hit: 5 Stars
I first bought this LP (yes, LP) when I found it in a dusty used album bin, about 2 blocks from Fantasy Records in Berkeley where it was recorded. The album was in perfect condition, so I made a tape copy that got played year after year. Eventually I wore the tape out, so I took out my pristine album and made another copy. No one I knew had the LP or knew where to find it, so they'd ask me to make them a tape. I wouldn't copy the LP directly - it was priceless to me - though I'd lend out the tape for them to copy. Eventually someone never returned it, so I made yet another copy from the LP. I wore that one out too, but by then they'd issued the CD and I bought that. The CD had one or two tracks the LP didn't have, and to be honest they added little for me - the LP as it stood was perfect. A few years later a bunch of my CDs were stolen, so I bought it again, which is my current copy.There really isn't any more to be said about this CD. Everyone's seen the show, and the music of Vince Guaraldi is timeless. One of the all-time greatest jazz musicians, Guaraldi had a unique and almost universally liked style few, if any, modern musicians can touch. The soundtrack has taken on a life of its own - play it at a party and people will smile and relax as they are almost subconsciously transported back to childhood.
The Christmas season starts for me right after Thanksgiving, when I first play "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Through all the hassles of traffic, shopping, cooking, cleaning, and the overall holiday rush, this CD always reminds me of the true meaning of Christmas, what this season is truly about. And I still take out and admire securely-stored LP version which I will never give up.