Here's to You, Charlie Brown!: 50 Great Years!

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Joined by bassist Christian McBride and drummer Peter Erskine in an acoustic-trio format, pianist David Benoit stitches together a modest but appealing ode to the music of Vince Guaraldi and the cartoon character that affected both of their careers. Half the compositions that make up Here's to You appear on Guaraldi's 1964 television soundtrack A Boy Named Charlie Brown. It's actually Guaraldi's original trio you hear during the opening 50 seconds of "Linus and Lucy," until Benoit's threesome splices in its own improvisation. A bit brief at 42 minutes, the package is nevertheless nicely understated and affectionately played. Some listeners would rather not have a holiday selection at the album's midpoint ("Christmas Time is Here," with harmonies by gospel act Take 6), but the intrusion is minor. Other guests include Chris Botti (adding a tasteful muted trumpet to a Benoit composition, "Linus Tells Charlie"), Michael Brecker (tenor sax on the swinging "Freda"), and Al Jarreau on the concluding "Happiness." --Terry Wood

Here's to You, Charlie Brown!: 50 Great Years!, Music, David Benoit, Contemporary Jazz, Crossover Jazz, Jazz, Jazz Music, Pop

Average customer rating:
Here's to You, Charlie Brown!: 50 Great Years!
David Benoit
Manufacturer: Universal Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music
Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music
Jazz | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004TKA3
Release Date: 2000-03-16

Tracks:

Linus and Lucy - David Benoit Trio, Vince Guaraldi
Charlie Brown Theme - David Benoit Trio
Pebble Beach - Marc Antoine, David Benoit Trio
Linus Tells Charlie - David Benoit Trio, Chris Botti
Frieda - David Benoit Trio, Michael Brecker
Christmas Time Is Here - David Benoit Trio, Alvin Chea, Cedric Dent, Joel Kibble, Mark Kibble, Claude McKnight, Take 6, David Thomas, David Thomas
Getting Ready - David Benoit Trio
Blue Charlie Brown - David Benoit Trio, Russell Malone
Red Baron - David Benoit Trio
Happiness - David Benoit Trio, Al Jarreau

Album Details

Japanese Version of this Peanuts 50th Anniv. Tribute Release featuring a Bonus Track: Good Grief.

Here's to You, Charlie Brown!: 50 Great Years!

Average customer rating:

Some of the greatest musicians make a not-so-great album
Cheesy-looking, but a truly great album
Nostalgic Kitsch on a Theme of Guaraldi
I lied....and I MUST confess my sin!
Heard it and Had to Have it

Here's to You, Charlie Brown!: 50 Great Years!
Chris Botti , and Michael Brecker
Manufacturer: Grp Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Children's Music | Styles | Music

General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music

GRP | Verve Music Group | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown!
Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits
Oh, Good Grief!
The Charlie Brown Suite & Other Favorites
Schroeder's Greatest Hits

ASIN: B00004ST4R
Release Date: 2000-05-09

Tracks:

Linus And Lucy
Charlie Brown Theme
Pebble Beach
Linus Tells Charlie
Freda
Christmas Time Is Here
Getting Ready
Blue Charlie Brown
Red Baron
Happiness

Amazon.com

Joined by bassist Christian McBride and drummer Peter Erskine in an acoustic-trio format, pianist David Benoit stitches together a modest but appealing ode to the music of Vince Guaraldi and the cartoon character that affected both of their careers. Half the compositions that make up Here's to You appear on Guaraldi's 1964 television soundtrack A Boy Named Charlie Brown. It's actually Guaraldi's original trio you hear during the opening 50 seconds of "Linus and Lucy," until Benoit's threesome splices in its own improvisation. A bit brief at 42 minutes, the package is nevertheless nicely understated and affectionately played. Some listeners would rather not have a holiday selection at the album's midpoint ("Christmas Time is Here," with harmonies by gospel act Take 6), but the intrusion is minor. Other guests include Chris Botti (adding a tasteful muted trumpet to a Benoit composition, "Linus Tells Charlie"), Michael Brecker (tenor sax on the swinging "Freda"), and Al Jarreau on the concluding "Happiness." --Terry Wood

Customer Reviews:

Some of the greatest musicians make a not-so-great album.......2005-10-24

It's always strange for me to hear reproductions of a work where the original needs no improvement. I have tremendous respect for these musicians, and yes, they play some great solos over the changes, but the album is basically just a recreation of tracks from the EXCELLENT Vince Guaraldi Trio records. My personal favorite is "Linus tells Charlie" which features some very sensitive trumpet from Chris Botti, but otherwise this records is just a little off, and I find myself listening only to the originals these days. The original band with Vince on piano just grooves better, and although from a recording perspective is sonically slightly inferior (they were probably mixing for TV) something about those original performances seem more emotional...is it just nostalgia?

If you are looking for some FANTASTIC recreations of old TV music (e.g. little rascals, looney tunes, etc...) by newer bands, check out the Beau Hunks' material. Superb playing and excellent attention to classic details and nuances of the original scores.

Cheesy-looking, but a truly great album.......2003-04-30

Being a long-time fan of Charles Schulz's "Peanuts" strip and of jazz, I was very happy to receive this CD as a gift. I had never heard of David Benoit, but after listening to this album over and over, I can say that he is a wonderful, wonderful piano player.

While this album, while looking at it, looks cheesy and very much like it's children's music, Benoit's piano trio (with Christian McBride on bass and Peter Erskine on drums, in case you have any doubts of the swinging-ness of this record) really has created a great jazz album and a fitting tribute to Vince Guaraldi and his music. Many of the cuts have special guests, too.

The album opens with (what else?) the always-recognized "Linus and Lucy," played beautifully by the trio and with Guaraldi's original piano track dubbed in. The trio also adds in a new, funky backbeat-style section in the middle.

"Charlie Brown Theme" is lesser-known, a medium-tempo song. While it is not my favorite, I still enjoy the calmness of it and Benoit's solo is pretty swinging.

"Pebble Beach" is an up-tempo bossa nova number with Marc Antoine joining the group on guitar. The tune is very catchy and it's fun to listen to. Good solos by Benoit and Antoine.

"Linus Tells Charlie," a slower tune, is given a beautiful texture with the addition of the muted trumpet sounds of Chris Botti. A very relaxing tune.

"Frieda" is one of my favorites, and it features Michael Brecker on tenor sax (he's pretty good, don't you think?). Killer solo by Brecker and the amazing chops of Benoit are featured here on this fun tune.

The gospel vocal group Take 6 is featured on Guaraldi's (and Lee Mendelson's) classic Christmas ode, "Christmastime is Here." A beautiful arrangement that makes you wish for winter.

"Getting Ready," the seventh cut, is the only song on the CD written by Benoit. It's a pretty straightforward tune that's more rock-ish than the rest. It grooves really hard, though, a fine example of the togetherness of this trio.

"Blue Charlie Brown" is a simple blues in F with Russell Malone on guitar. This is also the only tune where Erskine takes a solo (1 chorus before the out-head).

"Red Baron" is another one of my favorites. Marc Antoine reappears on guitar on this beautiful straight-8ths song. Great solos by all, and this song will stay with you forever, which is not a bad thing. Thanks to Guaraldi for a beautiful tune.

The closer, Clark Gesner's "Happiness" from the musical "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown!" is punctuated with the soothing, swooning voice of Al Jarreau. A beautiful song and a beautiful arrangement to end a beautiful album with.

Whether you are 3 or 103 years old (or anywhere in between and beyond), this CD is for you. Peanuts fan, jazz fan, music fan...it's all here. A wonderful tribute to the memory of Vince Guaraldi--and great background music for reading the daily strip.

Nostalgic Kitsch on a Theme of Guaraldi.......2001-11-30

...or, how to make a quick buck on someone elses stuff. Or, to summarize with a trite phrase, "Can't Beat the Real Thing". The legendary Guaraldi wrote jazz that is akin to American culture, and is loved by all. This translation takes something that was perfect and takes it down the other side of the peak. Isn't it enough to enjoy the original works without embellishing it with some popular anecdotes? Would you buy Steely Dan from anyone but Fagen? It just misses the mark, and screws up a good thing.

I lied....and I MUST confess my sin!.......2001-06-25

I purchased this CD under the "lie" of telling my wife that I wanted it for our 3 year old daughter...secretly though, it was for me! LOL.... I get the feeling that the fact that I listen to it so much has given my sin away to her, but yet she still says nothing! I have to admit though, if I was going to use a 3 year old to GET a CD...this was the one to use that on. In all seriousness, this CD is fully enjoyable and as far as tributes go, this is one of the best I've heard. This one takes you back to your childhood if "Peanuts" was a part of that! Great one!

Heard it and Had to Have it.......2001-06-06

I was sitting in a cafe in Seoul, S. Korea and heard this CD...liked it so much that I asked to see the CD case. I did not recognize the tunes as Charlie Brown standards, even though I grew up on the TV specials in the US. Just thought it was an outstanding jazz album....great dinner music, too. I have now added it to my collection.

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