Vince Guaraldi: Peanuts Portraits (2010)

Larry Taylor

Contributor since 2006

Larry retired from teachng college journalism after over 20 years, coming to teaching from 15 years in the newspaper business working for Ridder-Johns Newspapers.

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Published: May 24, 2010

Charles Schulz's Peanuts has been an enduring newspaper cartoon classic since the late 1940s. Its popularity peaked in the 1960s when the series was adapted for the first of many animated television specials, with music written by jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi. The strips continue to run today in newspapers, 10 years after Schulz's death in 2000.

For Peanuts Portraits, Concord has compiled many of the most popular tunes from the series, originally recorded on LPs; selections that should appeal to both fans of Peanuts and jazz.

Beginning with the first special, December, 1965's A Charlie Brown Christmas (continuing to run annually ever since during the holiday season), the music itself became popular as it depicted characters from the childhood world of hero Charlie Brown. With Guaraldi's's jazzy interpretations, the cartoon personalities became even more vivid and lovable, and, over the years, further Peanuts specials were produced, all featuring Guaraldi's music.

On Peanuts Portraits, Guaraldi's trio with bassist Monty Budwig and drummer Colin Bailey is featured on three selections. Other musicians added on subsequent tunes included trumpeter Tom Harrell and trombonist Chuck Bennett. Unfortunately, the list of musicians listed is incomplete.

Fans will immediately recognize the catchy "Linus and Lucy" on the opening track, performed by the trio; a tune that became very popular in the '60s. Guaraldi, though, really stands out on "Frieda" which, at six minutes, is the CD's longest number, displaying him at the apex of his bluesy, funky style.

After Guaraldi's untimely death in 1976 at age 47, George Winston recorded a stellar 1996 tribute album, Linus and Lucy: The Music of Vince Guaraldi (Windham Hill), and Peanuts Profiles ends with two of its numbers, featuring the pianist unaccompanied—a wonderfully soulful "The Masked Marvel," and, in an impressive technical tour-de-force, a personal reading of "Linus and Lucy."

This release provides a chance to become reacquainted with the creative force that was Guaraldi, as well as giving Peanuts lovers a chance to appreciate anew the world of this seemingly immortal cartoon series.

Track Listing: Linus and Lucy, Sally's Blues, Blue Charlie Brown, Peppermint Patty, Charlie's Blues, Joe Cool, Frieda, Schroeder, The Masked Marvel, Linus and Lucy.

Personnel: Vince Guaraldi: piano, keyboards (1-9); Monty Budwig: bass (1, 3, 7); Colin Bailey: drums (1,3,7); Edward McCain: bass (2, 4-6, 9); Mike Clark: drums (2, 4-6, 9); Chuck Bennett: trombone (5); Tom Harrell: trumpet (5, 6); George Winston: piano (10, 11).

Record Label: Concord Music Group
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream