On Dec. 9, 1965 nearly half of the U.S. TV-watching population tuned in to A Charlie Brown Christmas, an animated broadcast that featured the music of the Vince Guaraldi Trio. Prior to its debut, producers were worried the show was too religious, and the soundtrack was too jazz cutting-edge for children’s programming. Were they ever wrong: over 15 million homes from the US and Canada had eyes glued to that broadcast, and it has since become a holiday classic.
Fifty-two years ago drummer Jerry Granelli, the newest member of the Vince Guaraldi Trio, with Fred Marshall on bass, went into a San Francisco studio. In a three-hour session they recorded the soundtrack for a scrappy little animated Christmas special featuring the Peanuts gang. The trio had never seen any of the artwork for the session; no one knew that this would become the iconic soundtrack to the classic A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Granelli is the only surviving member of the line-up that made that legendary recording in 1965. With his new trio Simon Fisk bass and Chris Gestrin piano, the band looks to recreate the magic of this classic piece of music. Grandparents and parents alike get to introduce a new generation to jazz in this seventy-five minute production. Enchanting stories blend with enduringly beautiful music to capture the joy and spirit of the Christmas season.
Tickets are: $38 Adult | $32 Senior | $15 Youth & Student | $29*
FLEX PACKS are available through Box Office:
4-voucher $140 and 6-Voucher $192.