Charlie Brown Christmas

monroe55 · #1 12-18-2010, 06:10 AM

I just love this album from Vince Guiraldi. I read that its Fred Marshall on bass (upright though). However, in the show it appears that its "PIg-Pen" whos playing the upright.

I love his (Fred, not PigPen) playing/tone on some of the tunes. Anyone not familiar ( especially any you young guns out there) should digest it during your Holiday meal. Dont let the cartoon affiliation through you off. Its beautiful. I dont have much info on F. Marshall yet. I despise most Xmas songs by now but each year I'll flood my hoesehold with the sounds of this Jazz Trio album.

Twocan · #2 12-18-2010, 06:20 AM

I've owned the album many years - great tunes.

pica · #3 12-18-2010, 06:32 AM

Truly one of the best Christmas albums. I love "Christmas Time is Here". I've got it in my cd player right now.

Scatterblak · #4 12-18-2010, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pica

Truly one of the best Christmas albums. I love "Christmas Time is Here". I've got it in my cd player right now.

Just played bass on 'Christmas Time is Here' for a Christmas production for 2 weeks - such an easy tune to play, and such a narrow, warm window to play *right*. Man, you get the right laid back drummer and just lay wayyy back on that beat, and those can be some of the most fulfilling diamonds you'll ever play. I like how it's very 'without a net' as well - no room at all for any kind of mistake, or the world will clearly hear it and know it was you.

heb9_28 · #5 12-18-2010, 09:10 AM

Looooove that cd. Definitely my favorite Christmas album.

jazzbo58 · #6 12-18-2010, 09:13 AM

An absolute classic!!!

Cheers,
Jim

diglo · #7 12-18-2010, 09:17 AM

Classic!

JimK · #8 12-18-2010, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monroe55

Dont let the cartoon affiliation through you off.

Thanks...I had always assumed it was Monty Budwig.

The cartoon, Schulz, the music, Guaraldi, a shoestring budget, etc...a total marriage of everything being "just right".
IIRC, Schulz was a big Guaraldi fan & wanted this type of soundtrack.
The melancholy "Christmas Time Is Here"...is iconic.

markjazzbassist · #9 12-18-2010, 11:08 PM

i love this album. just bought it again. loving playing along and just enjoying the tunes

monroe55 · #10 12-19-2010, 05:12 AM

I figured since its an "upright" bass soundtrack, I should have posted it on the DB side but, I dont play upright and frankly, its scary over there

. Besides, I knew a lot of folks here would be hip to this album anyway.
If I had an upright, I'd want it to sound like Marshall's tone on " Christmas Time is Here". I think someone from DB wrote something about the difference in string types for that tone. Something about using "gut" strings?? Gross.

dls59 · #11 12-19-2010, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scatterblak

Just played bass ', on 'Christmas Time is Here' for a Christmas production for 2 weeks - such an easy tune to play, and such a narrow, warm window to play *right*. Man, you get the right laid back drummer and just lay wayyy back on that beat, and those can be some of the most fulfilling diamonds you'll ever play. I like how it's very 'without a net' as well - no room at all for any kind of mistake, or the world will clearly hear it and know it was you.

Same here! 8 shows of "Christmas Time Is Here", "Linus and Lucy", and "Skating". Roll the bridge pickup off, turn the tone knob way down, put a foam mute under the strings and play up on the neck. Wala! upright bass.