Review Summary: Pure holiday bliss.
Well, it's that time again. It already started snowing in my town, which means it's time to pop in the old Christmas specials and grab a glass of eggnog. Most of us have our own traditions for the holidays, but many of mine have revolved around classic Christmas films and shorts such as Chuck Jones'
How the Grinch Stole Christmas or that weird Rankin/Bass stop-motion flick
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer; even more modern family flicks like
Elf make it into the mix too. But alongside these works, another special that always lifts my yuletide spirits is the 1965 classic
A Charlie Brown Christmas. I love the simplicity and raw effort that was involved with this special, and especially the fact that the creators did all they could with such a tight budget. It really is a treat to watch because of its refreshingly bare-bones nature and message about finding the "true meaning of Christmas" amidst the holiday's over-commercialization. And of course, there's one other thing we can't forget: that music. That brilliant music.
To this day, Vince Guaraldi’s soundtrack remains among the most beloved Christmas recordings, as well as perhaps the most recognizable jazz record because of its iconic holiday status. But why is that? Is it because of how well the music was integrated with the Christmas special? That might play a part, but I think the appeal comes from a combination of simplicity the casual listener can cling to and strong compositions that musicians can appreciate. In short, there’s both an accessibility and musical proficiency that gives it widespread appeal. But it’s best to look at Guaraldi’s brilliant soundtrack in the same way as the Christmas special itself: as an experience. First of all, it’s important to note that, unlike a great deal of jazz recordings of the day, there are no horns included in this album. The majority of the music is performed by Guaraldi’s trio, which only includes piano, upright bass, and drums; for iconic tunes such as “Christmas Time Is Here,” a children’s choir is also included. Honestly though, the lack of bombast in this soundtrack is one of its most refreshing aspects. The experience feels incredibly calm and collected, even downbeat at times, but it fits the spirit of the
Peanuts specials beautifully.
There’s a healthy mix of originals and renditions here, and Guaraldi’s jazz originals are what shine the most. Some of
Peanuts’ most recognizable compositions are in this album, most notably the nimble and playful “Linus and Lucy” as well as the slow melancholic elegance of “Christmas Time Is Here,” the latter possibly being the best tune on the record because of inclusion of that fantastic choir. However, even though these pieces bear the
Charlie Brown name, that doesn’t mean this isn’t an incredible jazz album on its own. Aside from classical and carol renditions such as “Fur Elise” and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” this is a traditional jazz album through and through. You get quite a few impressive and technically complex piano lines from Guaraldi, Jerry Granelli’s drumwork varies from smooth jazz to bossa nova to swing, and Fred Marshall’s upright bass playing grants him a good number of strong solos as well. Many of the songs here could easily be seen as jazz standards; however, there are a few that stand out for being so ingeniously rearranged. The opener “O Tannenbaum” began as a traditional German folk song, but it suddenly seems so natural as a soft jazz number with warm piano chords over it. “What Child Is This” is even stronger, as Guaraldi’s piano playing gives a simultaneously melancholic and even mystical vibe through his incredible chord progressions and elegant melodies.
Again, however, what makes this album truly work as an
experience? To me, it’s the fact that Vince Guaraldi was able to create one of the most tangible and relatable holiday records out there. When you listen to the quick whimsical piano harmonies and swift drumming of “Skating,” it genuinely feels as though you’re ice skating outside in the winter weather. When you listen to “O Tennenbaum” and its jazzy recreation of an old Christmas carol, it’s easy to be compelled to dig up some old holiday pageant booklets and sing along. When you listen to the solemn melodies and subtle drum work of “What Child Is This,” it’s tempting to just look outside the window at night and watch the snowflakes fall. Guaraldi not only composed and rearranged beautiful tunes, but gave them a certain atmosphere; it really feels as though you can step into these settings he created, and each one has a different vibe and identity from the last. Case in point: there’s both an instrumental version of “Christmas Time Is Here” and a vocal one on the same album. Guaraldi could have easily just cut out the vocals and left the song as is. But nope; he uses the original template to make an extended version of the piece, complete with new solos and more time to let the atmosphere sink in. There’s even a fantastic bass solo around the middle! I can’t think of a better way to create an instrumental rendition of a classic piece.
A Charlie Brown Christmas wasn’t one of my most frequently-watched Christmas specials when I was younger, but that’s definitely changing as the years go by. I owe a huge portion of that to this soundtrack, which captured the heart and unabashed honesty of the
Peanuts series perfectly. The whole thing is just filled to the brim with jazz classics, and the entire trio perform their hearts out with each second. That, and the musicianship is extremely impressive on top of that.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas may be the Christmas special I watch the most, but this is the Christmas album I listen to the most. If you enjoy jazz music, want a more subdued holiday record, or just want something to set the mood while you drink your eggnog and put up your decorations (if you haven’t already), then this is a must-have.
