Vince Guaraldi

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San Francisco, United States

Born in San Francisco, jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi ( July 17, 1928 - Feb 6, 1976) graduated from Lincoln High School and then San Francisco State College. Guaraldi was already performing while in college in such venues as the Black Hawk and Jackson’s Nook, sometimes with the Chubby Jackson/Bill Harris band, other times in combos with Sonny Criss and Bill Harris. He did minor gigs as well, such as weddings. Guaraldi’s first recorded work can be heard on “Vibratharpe,” a 1953 release by the Cal Tjader Trio. In 1955, he put together his own trio: longtime friend Eddie Duran on guitar and Dean Reilly on bass—and tackled North Beach’s bohemian “hungry i” club, where his piano work became a huge attraction. It soon came to be recognized as the Guaraldi sound. The original Vince Guaraldi Trio, with Eddie Duran and Dean Reilly, can be heard on two genuinely pleasant releases: “The Vince Guaraldi Trio” (1956) and “A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing” (1957). Guaraldi toured in 1956 with Woody Herman’s third Thundering Herd, replacing Nat Pierce on piano for one season.

Inspired by the 1959 French-Brazilian film Orfeu Negro (1959) (Black Orpheus) Guaraldi hit the studio with a new trio: Monty Budwig on bass, Colin Bailey on drums—and recorded his own interpretations of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s haunting soundtrack music. The 1962 album was called “Jazz Impression of Black Orpheus,” which was released on then-owner Saul Zaentz’s Fantasy Records, and “Samba De Orpheus” was the first selection released as a single.
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  • uterina

    luv luv luv! <3

    27 days ago
  • soccer100

    Joe Cool :P

    last month
  • krustywazoo

    Charlie Brown's Christmas is one of the few Christmas albums I never tire of.

    December 2011
  • pingu88thrasher

    EL ES EL HOMBRE!!!

    December 2011
  • radioheadism

    christmas timeeeeeeeeeeee is hereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

    December 2011
  • Seduna-my-tuna

    wish i had the funky smooth tracks from 'A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving'...

    November 2011
  • rasta_tay

    I was such a fan of his christmas cd that i bought his greatest hits. Now i have vince to listen to year round!

    November 2011
  • Cobdogle

    Quintessential jazz.

    August 2011
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