Vince Guaraldi and Bola Sete: From All Sides

When it comes to West Coast jazz of the highest order, Lester Koenig's Contemporary label set the standard, although Fantasy Records would also carve its own niche.  Founded by the Weiss Brothers in 1949, Fantasy would be the home to two early jazz crossover artists, Dave Brubeck and Vince Guaraldi. 

With a taste for multiple genres, the label also documented the work of comedian Lenny Bruce and the country rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival.  The latter group actually earned the label so much money that the brothers were able to build a massive complex in Berkeley, California. Although Craft's recent incarnation of the Original Jazz Classics series has brought forth a few albums from the Fantasy label, the vaults are filled with gems just waiting to be mined, and they continue to cherry-pick some of the best.

The combination of Vince Guaraldi's whimsical piano style and Brazilian guitarist Bola Sete's earthy sensibility made for a compelling partnership—one that proved the axiom that the whole can often be greater than the sum of its parts. After spending twelve weeks as a regular presence at Guaraldi's engagement at the San Francisco club Trois Couleurs in the mid-1960s, Sete and the pianist went on to record three albums together for Fantasy Records. Of the trio of releases, From All Sides may well be the most satisfying, thanks to its astute choice of repertoire and the dependable support of two different rhythm sections.

The album opens with "Choro," a theme borrowed from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Following Guaraldi's appropriately classical exposition of the melody, Sete stretches out with graceful ease, spinning fluid single-note lines that highlight his lyrical touch. Guaraldi's own solo is brief but rewarding. Listeners familiar with the pianist's beloved score for A Charlie Brown Christmas (Fantasy, 1965) will immediately recognize "Menino Pequeno Da Bateria" as "The Little Drummer Boy." The sunny disposition of "Ginza Samba" shines, leading into "The Girl from Ipanema," a relaxed and inviting reading of the bossa nova classic that speaks to the easy rapport between the two leaders.

At the time of its recording, "A Taste of Honey" was enjoying widespread popularity, turning up on albums by artists as varied as Herb Alpert and The Beatles. The version by Guaraldi and Sete ranks among the more memorable interpretations, built around a catchy three-note repeating riff and punctuated by the subtle click of temple blocks. "The Ballad of Pancho Villa" follows with an engaging hybrid feel, sounding at times like a playful cross between "La Bamba" and Guaraldi's own ""Linus and Lucy." The album's final two selections are Sete originals rooted firmly in the bossa nova tradition. "Little Fishes" showcases the guitarist's supple rhythmic drive, complemented by a gently melancholic statement from Guaraldi. "Mameando" brings the proceedings to a close on a wistful and reflective note.

The collaboration between Vince Guaraldi and Bola Sete would be documented on record only once more in 1966. Guaraldi would pass away a decade later, while Sete remained musically active until he died in 1987. Fortunately, this small but meaningful artifact of their partnership endures. Capturing a particularly fruitful moment in their musical rapport, the album stands as a charming reminder of what the two artists achieved together—and it sounds better than ever in this impeccable reissue.