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Seward McCain

assist, composer, and jazz educator, Seward McCain is a San Francisco native and resides in the Bay Area. He was a longtime member of the Vince Guaraldi trio; performing, recording albums, and making soundtracks for “Peanuts” specials for television. He currently tours with Grammy winner Dame Cleo Laine. His work credits include Mark Murphy, Dianne Schuur, Ernestine Anderson, Mose Allison, and Jackie and Roy.


His newly released CD, “Seward’s Folly”, is a collection of all original music.

 

In addition to his recordings with Vince Guaraldi, he has also recorded with Cleo Laine, Dick Hindman, Maria Muldaur, and Ritchie Cole.


Seward is on the faculty of the Jazz School in Berkeley, CA,  Stanford Jazz Workshop, and Jazz Camp West in La Honda, CA.  He is married to Wendy McCain, a noted jazz vocalist and educator in the Bay Area. Both of them are on the faculty of the Stanford Jazz Workshop.


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6
Album Review

Vince Guaraldi: It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown!

Read "It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown!" reviewed by Joshua Weiner


The series of complete Peanuts television special soundtracks put out by Lee Mendelson Film Productions continues to thrill fans of Vince Guaraldi, Charlie Brown, Snoopy and all the gang. After the highly successful Christmas, Halloween, and Thanksgiving animated specials, the stage was set for 1974's It's The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown! Recorded over two days at Wally Heider Studios in Guaraldi's hometown of San Francisco, the soundtrack--resurrected for the first time from the 16-track master tape and freshly mixed--features the ...

10
Album Review

Vince Guaraldi: Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown

Read "Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown" reviewed by Joshua Weiner


The series of complete Peanuts television special soundtracks put out by Lee Mendelson Film Productions continues to provide a treasure trove of musical delights for fans of Vince Guaraldi, Charlie Brown, Snoopy and all the gang. Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown came out in 1975, and it certainly sounds like it, thanks to the expanded palette of instruments available to Guaraldi. In addition to the piano and electric piano featured on earlier specials, we hear the new ARP Solina String ...

14
Album Review

Vince Guaraldi: You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown

Read "You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown" reviewed by Joshua Weiner


Many a jazz fan was first exposed to the music through pianist Vince Guaraldi's soundtracks for the long series of animated television specials featuring Charles Schulz's evergreen Peanuts characters. That alone would secure Guaraldi's place in the jazz pantheon, but he is also remembered as a composer of the hit song “Cast Your Fate to the Wind" as well as for his forays into Brazilian music, including the popular 1962 album Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus (Fantasy) and a series ...

17
Album Review

Vince Guaraldi: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

Read "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving" reviewed by James Aren


Just in time for Thanksgiving, the people at Lee Mendelson films are serving up a fresh take on some old favorites. The soundtrack to a A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving has been released for the first time, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the special. Vince Guaraldi's voice is the first sound on the album. “Okay, well, did ya get that last one? This is cue one," as it swings into “Charlie Brown Blues." It is a good introduction ...

535
Album Review

Vince Guaraldi Trio: Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits

Read "Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits" reviewed by Douglas Payne


This nice little holiday gift is easily confused with the popular soundtrack to the 1964 TV special,A Charlie Brown Christmas. But don't be fooled. Nine of the 14 tracks included here are culled from the 15 Peanuts holiday specials Vince Guaraldi scored before his untimely death at age 47 in 1976--and have never been released on disc before.Some will even startle Vince Guaraldi fans. The lovely, melodic waltzes you can hum along to are all here. But it's ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

It's The Easter...

Lee Mendelson Film Productions
2025

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You’re a Good...

Lee Mendelson Film Productions
2025

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You're Not Elected,...

Lee Mendelson Film Productions
2024

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Be My Valentine,...

Lee Mendelson Film Productions
2024

buy

A Charlie Brown...

Lee Mendelson Film Productions, Inc.
2023

buy

Charlie Brown's...

Fantasy Jazz
1998

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Little Birdie

From: A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
By Seward McCain

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