| Essential Standards | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | June 30, 2009 | |||
| Recorded | 1956–1965 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 51:42 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Vince Guaraldi chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Five Cents Please | [2] |
Essential Standards is the third compilation album of songs by American jazz pianist/composer Vince Guaraldi released on June 30, 2009, in the U.S by Concord as part of their Original Jazz Classics series. [3]
Acting as a companion piece to Fantasy Records' 1980 Greatest Hits , [4] Essential Standards includes additional songs from Guaraldi's Fantasy Records catalogue outside of his soundtrack recordings for Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts television specials. [2]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original album | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Softly, As In a Morning Sunrise" | A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing (1958) | 3:28 | |
| 2. | "The Girl from Ipanema" | From All Sides (1965) | 5:19 | |
| 3. | "Moon River" | Henry Mancini | Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus (1964) | 5:16 |
| 4. | "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" | Vince Guaraldi | Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus | 3:05 |
| 5. | "Willow Weep for Me" | Ann Ronell | A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing | 5:14 |
| 6. | "Fascinating Rhythm" | Vince Guaraldi Trio (1956) | 2:45 | |
| 7. | "Since I Fell for You" | Buddy Johnson | Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus | 4:20 |
| 8. | "Days of Wine and Roses" | Henry Mancini | Vince Guaraldi, Bola Sete and Friends (1964) | 5:20 |
| 9. | "On Green Dolphin Street" (live) | In Person (1963) | 5:53 | |
| 10. | "Autumn Leaves" | Joseph Kosma | A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing | 4:22 |
| 11. | "Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars)" | Antônio Carlos Jobim | The Latin Side of Vince Guaraldi (1964) | 3:20 |
| 12. | ""What Child Is This"" (mistitled "Greensleeves") | William Chatterton Dix | A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) | 3:20 |
| Total length: | 51:42 | |||
Vincent Anthony Guaraldi was an American jazz pianist noted for his innovative compositions and arrangements, and for composing music for animated television adaptations of the Peanuts comic strip. His compositions for this series included their signature melody "Linus and Lucy" and the holiday standard "Christmas Time Is Here". He is also known for his performances on piano as a member of Cal Tjader's 1950s ensembles and for his own solo career. His 1962 composition "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" became a radio hit and won a Grammy Award in 1963 for Best Original Jazz Composition. He died of a sudden heart attack in February 1976 at age 47, moments after concluding a nightclub performance in Menlo Park, California.
"Linus and Lucy" is a popular instrumental jazz standard written by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, appearing in many Peanuts animated specials. Named for the two fictional siblings Linus and Lucy van Pelt, it was originally released on Guaraldi's album Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown. However, it gained its greatest exposure as part of the A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack the following year. It is one of the most recognizable pieces by Guaraldi, and has gained status as the signature melody of the Peanuts franchise.
A Charlie Brown Christmas is the eighth studio album by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi. The album was released in December 1965 in the U.S. by Fantasy Records and was Guaraldi's final studio album for the label. It is the soundtrack to the Christmas television special of the same name.
Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus is the third album by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, released in 1962 on Fantasy Records. It is considered Guaraldi's breakthrough album and made him a household name.
A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing is the second studio album by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, released in the US by Fantasy Records in October 1957.
Oh Good Grief! is the 10th studio album by Vince Guaraldi, released in the U.S. in May 1968. The album was the artist's first release with Warner Bros.-Seven Arts after leaving Fantasy Records in 1966.
Vince Guaraldi Trio is the debut studio album by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, released in the US by Fantasy Records in September 1956. It was recorded in San Francisco, California, in April 1956.
Jazz Impressions of A Boy Named Charlie Brown is the sixth studio album by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, released in the U.S. by Fantasy Records in December 1964. It is the soundtrack to the unreleased television documentary film entitled A Boy Named Charlie Brown.
The Eclectic Vince Guaraldi is the 11th and penultimate studio album by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, released in the U.S. by Warner Bros.-Seven Arts in March 1969. In a departure from his standard jazz output, Guaraldi experimented with electric keyboard and electric harpsichord in preparation of the release of the album, which he also produced and arranged.
The Latin Side of Vince Guaraldi is the fifth studio album by Vince Guaraldi released by Fantasy Records in 1964. In a departure from his standard jazz output, Guaraldi combined elements of Brazilian and Caribbean styles of Latin jazz, utilizing a string quartet on five tracks.
Charlie Brown's Holiday Hits is a compilation album by jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi released by Fantasy Records in 1998. The album was the first of several posthumous releases containing a mix of previously released material in addition to nine previously unavailable songs featured in prime-time animated television specials based on the Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz.
In Person is a live performance album by jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, released in the U.S. on June 10, 1963 on Fantasy Records. It was released as a follow-up to his album Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus which featured the surprise hit song "Cast Your Fate to the Wind".
At Grace Cathedral is a live performance album by jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi, released in the U.S. in September 1965 on Fantasy Records.
Vince Guaraldi with the San Francisco Boys Chorus is an album collaboration between American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi and the San Francisco Boys Chorus released in December 1967. It was Guaraldi's ninth studio album and the first to be released on his D&D record label, named for the first initials of his two children, David and Dia.
Modern Music from San Francisco is a studio album featuring the Vince Guaraldi Quartet, the Ron Crotty Trio and the Jerry Dodgion Quartet recorded in August 1955 and released on Fantasy Records in May 1956. The record is the first album to feature pianist and future Peanuts composer Vince Guaraldi leading his own quartet rather than augmenting other established groups.
Greatest Hits is the second compilation album of songs by American jazz pianist/composer Vince Guaraldi released in 1980 in the U.S., Canada and Europe.
Jazz Impressions is the first compilation album of songs by American jazz pianist and composer Vince Guaraldi. The compilation was released in March 1964.
Peanuts Portraits is the fifth compilation album by jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi released by Fantasy/Concord Records on April 20, 2010. The album contains a mix of previously released material plus alternate and extended versions of songs featured in prime-time animated television specials based on the Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz.
The Very Best of Vince Guaraldi is the sixth compilation album of songs by American jazz pianist/composer Vince Guaraldi released on August 7, 2012, in the U.S by Fantasy/Concord Records as part of their "Very Best" series.
Peanuts Greatest Hits is the seventh compilation album by jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi released by Fantasy/Concord Records on July 31, 2015. The album gathers Guaraldi's most iconic compositions featured in the animated television specials based on the Peanuts comic strip by Charles M. Schulz.