He's best known, and deservedly so, for the jazzy music he wrote for Charles M. Schulz's "Peanuts" characters, but San Francisco-based Vince Guaraldi was also a highly regarded trio and ensemble pianist whose laid-back grooves are still a treat to hear. Greatest Hits samples his various stages, from big hits "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" and "Samba de Orpheus" to his work with Latin guitarist Bola Sete ("Days of Wine and Roses") to, yes, his beloved "Peanuts" compositions ("Good Grief," "Linus and Lucy," "Christmastime Is Here"). --David Horiuchi

I've had this CD in the player for weeks now! Even when I change the other CDs, I continue to leave this one in the number one spot! It's impossible to grow tired of it! Great light jazz! Makes for perfect ambiance music. If you don't own any other Guaraldi CDs, this is an absolute!

Vince Guaraldi could play the piano alongside the best of them without ever missing a beat. His genius and creativity lead him to produce some mighty beautiful music at the piano; and this CD easily shows us how he did it.

The CD track set begins with "Cast Your Fate To The Wind." Vince plays with sensitivity and he handles subtle tempo and key changes like the pro he always was! The percussion, drums and bass help the number along--but they leave Vince's piano playing squarely in the spotlight. Awesome! "Mr. Lucky" gets the royal Latin treatment from Vince and the others as they play this to perfection. Watch out--this number is so refined, you'll want to jump up and start dancing wherever you are! "Mr. Lucky" shows how facile Vince Guaraldi was at the piano; and I like the arrangement for the strings and percussion as well.

Moreover, "Days Of Wine And Roses" already haunts me with its stunning beauty; the arrangement for guitar couldn't be better and when Vince comes in on the piano "Days Of Wine And Roses" truly takes flight! The percussion also helps to make "Days Of Wine And Roses" a number I predict you'll enjoy very, very much. How elegant! "Outra Vez" has a bossa nova type beat that is truly special; and Vince plays beautifully, never once missing a note. "Outra Vez" is another highlight of this fine album.

The CD ends with three "Peanuts" related numbers; as you may well know Vince Guaraldi did a lot of work playing piano on the number for the "Peanuts" Christmastime TV special entitled A Charlie Brown Christmas and other Peanuts TV specials as well. "Oh, Good Grief!" is a peppy, jazzy little number that features how well Vince could take a simply melody and make it sound orchestral and majestic. Wow. "Linus And Lucy" comes from A Charlie Brown Christmas; but this excellent jazzy number could be enjoyed any day of the year. Listen for Vince to flawlessly jump back and forth between tempo and key changes without the slightest bit of effort! "Linus And Lucy" also features some terrific percussion and drums to help the melody shine even brighter. The CD ends with "Christmas Time Is Here;" this number stuns me with its beauty and I'm sure you will enjoy it, too. "Christmas Time Is Here" begins with the piano and some gentle percussion; but make no mistake about it--Vince Guaraldi's piano playing remains completely in the spotlight. Vince plays this with such sensitivity and grace that he makes "Christmas Time Is Here" both an instant classic--as it was and still is--and a masterpiece. This number is a fine ending to this incredible album.

The liner notes give us an excellent color photo of Vince on the front; and we get the song credits as well. There is a brief essay by Gene Santoro.

Vince Guaraldi never failed to turn in anything except a stellar performance; and he made it sound so easy even though we know it really wasn't. We are all better off for Vince sharing his magnificent artistry with us; and hopefully Vince Guaraldi will be fondly remembered for ages to come.

Thank you, Vince! We miss you terribly!

Mr. Guaraldi is probably best known as the composer of the early Charlie Brown soundtracks from A Charlie Brown Christmas to It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown. However, before the Peanuts gang set a literal animation foot, "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" was perhaps what Vince Guaraldi was best known for. The original version is included here and I remember hearing it as a kid as the theme to one classic rock radio show by one DJ based out in New York (WNEW FM, in fact). Guaraldi was a gifted pianist (although he was just as articulate on other keyboard instruments) and this CD mainly focuses on his 1960's contributions. He covered standards like the meloncholy romantic "Mahna de Carnival," the Beatles "I'm a Loser," Henry Mancini's "Mr. Lucky," and "Days of Wine and Roses" (featuring some impressive acoustic guitar licks from Bolo Sete). It also features another original Guaraldi composition called "Treat Street" (it sounds like a mix between George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" and the theme music from the Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show, which would come out years after Mr. Guaraldi's untimely death). Known for trying different styles, Brazilian influnces abound on "Outra Vez" and Latin influences on "Zelao." Of course, 3 standards from the Charlie Brown specials are included here, "Oh Good Grief," "Linus and Lucy" (one of his best known songs, otherwise known as the theme from all the Charlie Brown specials) and "Christmas Time Is Here." This one I recommend to anyone who likes good sounding jazz piano and of course, to anyone who thinks all Guaraldi played were scores for Charlie Brown!

It's always a treat to hear the velvety smooth work of jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi and realize he was far more than cartoonist Charles Schultz's composer on those long-ago Peanuts TV specials, in particular, "A Charlie Brown Christmas". Guaraldi's style is so recognizable throughout each of these compositions that you feel you are in a smoky basement nightclub in the early 1960's listening intently to his trio with just a handful of other patrons. This 1989 compilation from Fantasy Records captures the highlights of his two decades of recording before his untimely death from a heart attack in 1976. The disc begins with his breakthrough hit, the rhythmically sauntering "Cast Your Fate Against the Wind" from his classic 1962 album, "Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus".

It ends with his two most famous songs - the infectious "Linus and Lucy" from "A Boy Named Charlie Brown" and the sonorous holiday classic "Christmastime is Here" from "A Charlie Brown Christmas". In between are a number of lesser known works of equal quality performed impeccably, most often with Bola Sete on guitar, Fred Marshall on bass and Jerry Granelli on drums. Several tracks have a nicely insinuating Brazilian influence such as the quietly mesmerizing "Star Song", the percolating "Outra Vez", the up-tempo "Samba de Orpheus" with its nice bass-dominated introduction, and the Latin-soaked scratcher on "Zelao". Guaraldi even tackles the Beatles' "I'm a Loser" and Henry Mancini's "Days of Wine and Roses" (spotlighting Sete's assured fretwork) with equal dexterity. My favorite track is the effusively performed "Ginza", which shows Guaraldi and Sete partnering most fluidly. This lush disc is a must for fans of both performers but in particular, Guaraldi for his singular style.

I purchased four copies of this CD as gifts for my nearest and dearest. They all love it, some because they remember Vince Guaraldi from the 60s and one because she was raised in our home where the Peanuts gang, brought to life with Guaraldi's music, was as cherished as good jazz. There was a great article about Guaraldi in the Arts section of the 12/10/06 Washington Post which triggered this purchase. Give this music to someone special.