Indiana Public Media’s Night Lights has posted on the internet a one-hour program about Vince Guaraldi. The host, David Brent Johnson, traces the pianist’s career, plays a broad selection of his recordings and talks with guitarist Eddie Duran, Charlie Brown specials producer Lee Mendelson, Guaraldi’s son David, pianist Luke Gillespie providing analysis, and others who were close to Guaraldi. I am pleased to be included in the broadcast. To hear It’s Jazz, Charlie Brown: The Vince Guaraldi Story, click here.
Want even more about Vince? My Guaraldi spot with Scott Simon is still up on the NPR web site.
ABC-TV will air its traditional rerun of A Charlie Brown Christmas with Guaraldi’s music tomorrow, December 8, at 8 pm EST.
Speaking Of Vince Guaraldi…
December 7, 2009 by
The nonagenarian pianist presented de Barros with every biographer’s hope, unrestricted access to his subject’s personal papers and nearly unrestricted access to her private thoughts. He made the most of it, turning exhaustive research and hundreds of hours of interviews into a true story with the sweep of a novel. From the early discovery of McPartland’s musical gift through her wartime service, her ecstatic and stormy marriage to Jimmy McPartland, her growth as a pianist, her deep affair with Joe Morello, and the radio show that made her a national figure, she has had a fascinating life. It makes a splendid read.
Mulligan’s Concert Jazz Band had three fewer musicians than most big jazz outfits. Its size permitted precision, flexibility and subtlety, yet the band had the power of sprung steel. In this concert from a half century ago, the CJB is as fresh as yesterday. Arrangements by Mulligan, Bob Brookmeyer, Al Cohn and Johnny Mandel set standards to which big band writers still aspire. Bassist Buddy Clark and drummer Mel Lewis inspired Mulligan, Brookmeyer, Conte Candoli, Gene Quill and Zoot Sims to some of the best soloing of their careers. This beautifully produced issue of the complete concert is a basic repertoire item.
I first heard of Vince Guaraldi when Cast your Fate to the Wind became popular, and I loved this piece of music to distraction. I was a college student at the time. I used to go to sleep with a transistor radio under my pillow tuned in to a NY jazz station (the one Mort Fega was on). On one particular night I awoke suddenly for no apparent reason, the radio was silent. Then the opening strains of Cast your Fate to the Wind came from under my pillow. Spooooooooooky!
Okay, I probably unconsciously heard an announcement that this tune was about to be played and something triggered me awake. My sleeping brain was being kind to me.
I love Guaraldi’s simplicity and totally entrancing melodies. He has left an enduring mark on all sorts of people, not just jazz fans.
Google ‘vince guaraldi death’ and there is a link called Saber Point, Answers to Vince’s death. Go in and read my article and see what is probably the last known photo of Vince with me in 1975. I was his love and he was mine but it ended.
hi girlfriend of vince, if you are who i think you are we shared an apartment in san mateo..i’m janet. dam! i can’t remember your name! i remember you though. email me!!
janet janetsam@mindspring.com