A VINCE GUARALDI HOLIDAY

We just attended the twins' annual holiday concert, and the music that played before the show, during intermission, and immediately following the performance was selections from Vince's legendary 1965 A Charlie Brown Christmas. Over the course of the next 11 years, Vince would score 15 Peanuts specials and one feature length film, but his crowning achievement was his first effort for the Christmas episode - Vince Guaraldi IS Christmas music. The jazz purists may scoff, but lovers of music cannot deny that the man could write and play a tune with cheerful gusto. My lifelong love of jazz is definitely rooted in hearing this music at a very young age and hearing his original blend of jazz filtered through his appreciation of rock, Latin, and French pop music. Whenever it snows, I can hear the piano intro of "Skating." When Charlie and Linus go to pick out a tree and discuss the increasing commercialism of the season, I hear "O Tannenbaum." As we waited for the boys, "Linus and Lucy" kicked in over the loud speakers and Mary went absolutely bananas. You know what? So did I...

Since I had sprinkled past mixes with cuts from the holiday album, I used this mix to focus on some of this other Peanuts work as well as his highly celebrated compositions from works such as Cast Your Fate to The Wind, Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus, and The Latin Side. Finally, since it's Vince, this entry gets 3 pieces of artwork.

Great Pumpkin Waltz
Happiness Is
Samba De Orpheus
Surfin' Snoopy
Baseball Theme
Treat Streat
Joe Cool
Freda (With the Naturally Curly Hair)
O Nosso Amor
Heartburn Waltz
Blue Charlie Brown
Star Song
Greensleeves (Alternate)
Track Meet
Charlie Brown Theme
Manha De Carnaval
Charlie's Blues
Oh, Good Grief
Mr. Lucky
Pebble Beach
Schroeder
Corcovado
Cast Your Fate To The Wind

Download this mix here, or stream the songs in the player below: