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Vince Guaraldi - In Person Audio CD

A fair review of the Vince Guaraldi "In Person" 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: In Person
Rating:
Release Date: 1997-11-18
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Zel�o 2: On Green Dolphin Street 3: Misirlou 4: Forgive Me If I'm Late 5: Jitterbug Waltz 6: Outra Vez 7: Freeway 8: Love of a Rose 9: Chora Tua Tristeza

More atmosphere than substance


The sound quality isn't great, but in a way this adds a kind of documentary flavour to the proceedings - snapshots of typical club sets somewhere in late 50s/early 60s San Francisco when Latin and pop jazz was ubiquitous in venues such as the "Blackhawk" or the "Hungry i". The most distinctive thing about this album is the cover design, which reflects the fact this was a compilation of two different live sets: one, a standard jazz set featuring his trio; the other an expanded line-up venturing into Cal Tjader territory, with acoustic guitar (Eddie Duran, who doesn't take any solos here but keeps the Latin groove chugging along) and some heavy-handed percussion.

But I can't help wondering if the original LP was little more than a quickly-issued follow up to Guaraldi's suprise hit, Cast Your Fate To The Wind (a. k. a Jazz Impressions Of Black Orpheus), such is the triviality and brevity of some of these tracks. .


Warm and Graceful
Though it makes some forays into Brazilian music, the basic style will be familiar to anyone who grew up watching the Charlie Brown animated TV specials since Guaraldi wrote and performed the soundtracks to those programs. This album of melodic jazz piano will feel like an old friend from the very first listen.

Very little of Guaraldi's original work appears on this record. But he really does a beautiful job of making other people's songs sound like his own. What I appreciate is the restraint that characterizes Guaraldi's playing. Though clearly a virtuoso musician, he avoids lengthy, self-aggrandizing solos, focusing instead on enhancing the songs themselves.

"In Person" may not be the most adventurous jazz record I've ever heard, but it's certainly one of the most consistently enjoyable.


An Excellent Follow-Up to "Black Orpheus"
" Despite being a "live" album, the audience noise has been removed, and this is all original material. "In Person" continued the sound of Vince Guaraldi's 1962 masterpiece, "Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus.

Vince Guaraldi created one of the most original, distinctive, and joyous sounds in jazz piano. This work - like his others - deserves a wider audience.


Not so much
There are only 2 or 3 songs that are straight up. I'm not much into the salsa stuff, and this album is full of it. That being said, I really like Vince and it was probably worth the 10 bucks just to hear him play "On Green Dolphin Street".


My Favorite Jazz CD
I've been listening to this CD for over 6 months now. . religiously (at least once every other day . . . no joke. ) I mainly listen because this is the best rendition of "On Green Dolphin Street" performed by any jazz artist. Period. I've also enjoyed his ability to incorporate different styles of music and make them his own (like in the CD "From Both Sides"). He does this here as well with the latin rythms he weaves into several songs on this recording. You must buy this CD.


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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