The Genius of Vince Guaraldi

[Andy Volk]

Like a lot of other people, I'd always loved the music Vince Guaraldi wrote for the Charlie Brown specials in the mid 60's - especially "A Charlie Brown Christmas".
I'm a totally hack piano player ( I can only play in two keys) but I picked up Guaraldi's solo piano transcriptions just to botch my way through "Christmastime is Here". I was really taken aback by how complex yet perfect his voicings were. I play a weanie guitar version of Linus & Lucy but the original piano music is so perfectly voiced and constructed that I finally got some insight into why this music caught everyone's ear 25 years ago and why it's lasted. His jazz recordings with guitarists, Bola Sete & Eddie Duran are good too.

[Chris Lasher]

Wow! There's a name I never would have thought to pop up on an internet forum!

Andy, I completely agree with you--Vince's compositions are stellar, and his playing style is deceptively simple, but it's very intelligent and tasteful.

His "Greatest Hits" album is very, very good, and worth buying. I love "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" in particular. George Winston does an excellent cover of this song, as well.

Hey, if you ever record any "hackings-through" of Guaraldi tunes, post an MP3--I'd love to hear them!

[Chris Walke]

The Charlie Brown Christmas cd is, IMO, the best Christmas album ever. Whenever I suggest it to people that haven't heard it, they are taken aback. I used to work in a record store, and at Christmas, the customers thought I was crazy - at first. I'd play a few tracks while they browsed the store and they'd soon be eager to buy it. I think people have this idea it's a children's album when they hear "Charlie Brown." Funny, I never thought Charles M. Schultz was writing for kids.

Guaraldi is great. I picked up another album of his a few years back (title escapes me) and found it very enjoyable. Simple piano combo jazz - very accessible, and sets the mood for a quiet evening.

[Donny Hinson]

Simplicity...and taste. I've been a <u>big</u> fan of Vince's for years! The same simplicity and taste is evident in Norah Jones' recordings, and in George Jone's stuff, Price's new album "Time", and in most of the works of George Strait and Alan Jackson. "Layered" recordings with dozens and dozens of tracks are like a hooker's makeup...attractive from a distance, but clearly tacky and "over-done" when studied closely.

To put it simply, if you have talent, simplicity works.

I just wonder how long it'll take the recording industry, as a whole, to catch on (again).

[scott murray]

I couldn't agree more.

Christmas just isn't the same without the 'Charlie Brown Xmas' album.

"Christmas Time Is Here" lays out real well on the C6 tuning, and "Skating" is another Guaraldi original that has become a holiday standard.

I just read a bio on Vince, and found that he died in '76 at the age of 47. What a shame.

[Les Pierce]

I love "Christmas Time Is Here". I can listen to it over and over. Very nice bass solo, too.

There is a TAB for the Classical Guitar for it at this site:
[url=http:///alt.venus.co.uk/weed/music/classtab]http:///alt.venus.co.uk/weed/music/classtab[/url]

A little out of my league, but interesting, for sure.

I am not a big fan of piano, except for Vince Guaraldi. None better.

Take care,

Les

[Harry Williams]

How about "Cast your fate to the wind"...

[Scott Henderson]

christmas time and oh christmas tree are probably my top two christmas songs they remind me so much of my childhood. That's why i did a medley on my new CD of those two songs. you can here a sample on my website at scottyhenderson.com
Vince was a genius and I love his music

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Steelin' away in the ozarks and life,
Scott
www.scottyhenderson.com

[Buck Dilly]

"Cast your fate..." always knocked me out completely! May he rest in peace.