With the holiday season in motion, I am spending most of my time listening to Christmas music. Every year, my family does not play holiday music until after Thanksgiving. Only then do we listen to Christmas music; we know if we listen to it before Thanksgiving, we will be sick of it just in time for Christmas. Additionally, my family holds a longstanding tradition of playing every person’s least favorite holiday tune. My dad, for example, is not the biggest fan of Sir Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime.” So, my mom and I, without fail, play that song for my dad just to poke fun. Same thing goes for my mom, but instead we play her Barbra Streisand’s rendition of “Jingle Bells?”.
Though we may not agree on all of our holiday music choices, a work that we all thoroughly enjoy is 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' by the Vince Guaraldi Trio. Ever since I can remember, we have played the album whilst wrapping presents, or decorating the tree, or baking. Within the album are covers of previously existing holiday classics such as “O Tannenbaum” and “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” along with originals such as “Linus and Lucy” and “Skating.” The album is a mixture of West Coast and bebop jazz. Most of the songs have very bright tones and quick tempos which convey a joyful and bright feel. The instrumentation is mainly piano, bass, and drums. The piano is the main voice of the album, taking lots of improvisation liberties in every piece.
One of my favorite songs off the album is the instrumental version of “Christmas Time Is Here” due to the piano’s melodic yet complex sections. It makes the song more appealing and tells a story rather than reciting something that has been done a million times before. This album is a work that can speak to multiple generations, thanks to the timelessness of jazz. Everybody loves a good version of a classy Christmas song, and no one does it better than the Vince Guaraldi Trio. Personally, Vince Guaraldi Trio’s music will always serve a nostalgic and sentimental part in my life. I grew up with their music, thanks to my parents and I am grateful to have been exposed to a quintessential recording of holiday music.
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