[TR24][OF] Vince Guaraldi Trio - A Charlie Brown Christmas - 1965/2011 (Cool, Mainstream Jazz)

The first time you listen to this disc you will undoubtedly be transported directly back to your childhood. Charles Schulz's Peanuts characters will go toe-tapping and funky-dancing through your mind's eye. Play it a few more times, though (ignoring the dialogue snippets, if you can), and you will begin to truly revel in Guaraldi's wonderful, humorous, deep piano playing. You'll hear why he's such an influence on new age ivory tickler George Winston, but you'll also realize that Winston's holiday music never quite sparkles with the underlying passion, and humor, that twinkles in these grooves. Buy it for the nostalgia--keep it because it will remain one of the most enchanting albums in your holiday collection.

Reviews

"Imagine my delight when HDtracks released not one but two hi-res versions of one of my all-time favorite albums. As good as the CD is, the downloads are in a different league. Guaraldi’s piano is so much more dynamic, it’s as if someone raised the lid. The difference is audible within the first half dozen notes of “Linus and Lucy.” Moreover, the entire presentation is more spacious, and the chorus sounds even more natural, with individual singers easy to discern. The 192/24 version dispenses with the very subtle digital patina that coats the 96/24’s piano, and the chorus is clearer still. However, the less crisp 96/24 version is also mellower and more forgiving. The choice is a matter of preference, but I can’t imagine anyone being less than thrilled—musically and sonically—with either of these downloads." - Alan Taffel, The Absolute Sound

"The higher resolution captures all the detail of the original recording. I'm happy to have had the chance to master this great music again in HD. I think it's the best it ever sounded." - Joe Tarantino, Joe Tarantino Mastering