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Vince Guaraldi - Vince Guaraldi at Grace Cathedral Audio CD

A fair review of the Vince Guaraldi "Vince Guaraldi at Grace Cathedral" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Vince Guaraldi reviews here, or go back to the Vince Guaraldi tabs.

Vince Guaraldi Band: Vince Guaraldi
Title: Vince Guaraldi at Grace Cathedral
Rating:
Release Date: 1997-07-08
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Bishop's Greeting 2: Kyrie Eleison 3: Come With Us, O Blessed Jesus 4: Nicene Creed (I Believe) 5: Come Holy Ghost 6: Theme to Grace 7: Sursum Corda and Sanctus 8: Lord's Prayer 9: Agnus Dei (O Lamb of God) 10: Holy Communion Blues 11: Adore Devote (Humbly I Adore Thee) 12: In Remembrance of Me 13: Gloria in Excelsis 14: Blessing (Bishop James A. Pike)

Guaraldi--Jazz like Joe Wise and Carey Landry
In fact, I remember many an ecumenical encounter in the years close to when this album was first put out. There was a time a while ago when both Catholicism and Episcopalianism were trying to bring real joy and musical enthusiasm into liturgy.

As a Catholic, I particularly liked musicians Joe Wise and Carey Landry in the early '70s. Guaraldi's Episcopalian performance here reminds me of my favorite Wise and Landry albums (Gonna Sing My Lord and Hi God). Through all the authentic, emotional liturgical music of that era runs an aperture, a bridge, through which true human emotions can fill the space between pews, between pew and altar, between altar and God. Guaraldi plays and we become more attentive to the Holy Spirit working within us.

Yes, I like Guaraldi quite a bit, and his performance here as a jazz effort is impressive. My only negative remark is that the equipment used to record this mass was not at all capable of magnifying the jazz musicians sufficiently. I feel tired sometimes trying to strain out Guaraldi's playing from the waves that carry everything to the ceiling.

I recommend you play #6 and #10 a lot. You will recognize many familiar riffs from Jazz Orpheus and Charlie Brown songs especially on #10.


The First Jazz Mass in America
This was not a concert, it was a worship experience, a Holy Eucharist. Few people know that Vince Guaraldi and the team that produced the Grace Cathedral event were making history. This was the first use of jazz in the liturgy in a cathedral setting, and perhaps anywhere in the USA. There had been jazz liturgies in England (the Beaumont Mass) but none here. This was 1964 - before guitars and bands had become common in the worship experience. This was a bold step forward musically in the liturgy.

Vince Guaraldi blended improvisation with ancient plainsong liturgical music. Familiar hymns were also a part of the service. By doing this all the participants had a familiar starting place in their worship experience. The result is dynamic, uplifting and deeply spiritually moving.

The Rev. Charles Gompertz
.


I last heard this 20 years ago ... brilliant jazz pianist.
Vince was such an amazing musician . 20 years ago, a friend of mine at Xerox played me this music from Vince Guaraldi; I previously thought I had every piece of music he played. . . brilliant.


St Paul's choir
Mineah's posting- I was a boy in the choir for this recording. I support R. It was indeed the St Paul's Episcopal Church in San Rafael. Barry Mineah was a great influence for us boys- in rehearsals and on the camping trips in the Sierras.


Setting the record straight
However, I would like to set the record straight on one point. It's wonderful to read these reviews and know that after 40 years, people are still enjoying this once-revolutionary jazz mass. . . . it was not the Grace Cathedral Choir performing this piece - it was the St. Paul's Episcopal Choir from San Rafael, CA, directed by my father, Barry Mineah and it was not only his childrens' choir, but also the adult choir who performed. In fact, I, along with my mother and one of my brothers, was a member of that choir.


You can see a complete list of all Vince Guaraldi discography, or go back to the Vince Guaraldi tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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