My 7 year old identical twin granddaughters are beginner jazz pianists. I have forwarded this beautifully written essay to my daughter for the twins listening enjoyment and awakening. Thank you Robert for your gift to me this blessed season as I pass along this historical recording to a budding generation of jazz enthusiasts in my own family.
Great album, and great piece! Something about 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' has puzzled me but maybe you're the man with the answer: why is Fur Elise on the album?
Thank you for another marvelous edition, Robert. It's fascinating how frequently in the history of show business, entertainment executives have revealed themselves to be among the world's least intelligent people.
One example is the first screening of "Breakfast at Tiffany's" for studio executives. They watched the movie without comment. It ended, the lights came up, and one of them said:
"Well, one thing is for sure. That song has to come out." He was referring to "Moon River."
As incomprehensibly dense as that guy was, he wasn't quite as sad a case as the CBS executive who, after the preview of "A Charlie Brown Christmas," said, "Well, there toward the end, when he ( Linus ) reads aloud from the Bible, does that have to be in the show? Why? Why is it so important?"
I never asked myself who the musicians were, but definitely remember enjoying the music. There was a word we were taught at Berklee and obviously I didn't learn it very well. I'll have to go back to my notes. It's about when music has a perfect fit with a story. That's how I felt with the tracks on the movie.
Robert, this is a great post! My dad passed away in 2009 and was a huge old school jazz fan. He would watch Charlie Brown with me when I was a kid just so he could listen to Vince Guaraldi! When it came out on CD I bought it for him! Thanks for helping me think of him again! Merry Christmas!
My 7 year old identical twin granddaughters are beginner jazz pianists. I have forwarded this beautifully written essay to my daughter for the twins listening enjoyment and awakening. Thank you Robert for your gift to me this blessed season as I pass along this historical recording to a budding generation of jazz enthusiasts in my own family.
The pleasure is entirely mine. Wishing you a wonderful holiday season!
Fine post Robert. By far my favorite Christmas album. Vince Guaraldi was a very underrated piano player and composer.
Guaraldi was great!
Agreed! Happy Holidays!
And the same to you!
Great album, and great piece! Something about 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' has puzzled me but maybe you're the man with the answer: why is Fur Elise on the album?
Thanks - not sure exactly why Fur Elise is on the album. My only guess would be because of its prominence in the special itself.
Thank you for another marvelous edition, Robert. It's fascinating how frequently in the history of show business, entertainment executives have revealed themselves to be among the world's least intelligent people.
One example is the first screening of "Breakfast at Tiffany's" for studio executives. They watched the movie without comment. It ended, the lights came up, and one of them said:
"Well, one thing is for sure. That song has to come out." He was referring to "Moon River."
As incomprehensibly dense as that guy was, he wasn't quite as sad a case as the CBS executive who, after the preview of "A Charlie Brown Christmas," said, "Well, there toward the end, when he ( Linus ) reads aloud from the Bible, does that have to be in the show? Why? Why is it so important?"
Talk about completely missing the point.
Another example I recall is Jack Warner's buffudlement after being screened 'Bonnie and Clyde.'
I never asked myself who the musicians were, but definitely remember enjoying the music. There was a word we were taught at Berklee and obviously I didn't learn it very well. I'll have to go back to my notes. It's about when music has a perfect fit with a story. That's how I felt with the tracks on the movie.
That's how I feel about the music for 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' too: it fits perfectly.
Robert, this is a great post! My dad passed away in 2009 and was a huge old school jazz fan. He would watch Charlie Brown with me when I was a kid just so he could listen to Vince Guaraldi! When it came out on CD I bought it for him! Thanks for helping me think of him again! Merry Christmas!
You're most welcome! A Merry Christmas to you too!