Customer Reviews

Alma-Ville

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This was Vince's last studio effort and, by all accounts, one of the rarest of albums to find. When I bought a new turntable after many years, it was among the first albums I played. Because it was released on Warner, there was despair among Vince's fans that it would never see a CD treatment. Despair no more. Not only has been released, it has been giving loving treatment by the wizards at Rhino.

Worth the price of admission if only for Uno Y Uno, on which Vince plays electric guitar, the entire album shows Guaraldi in full maturity as an artist, displaying the jazz/blues fusion and delicate touch for which he was beloved by his fans. Herb Ellis on guitar, Colin Bailey on drums, and a host of other studio greats make Alma-Ville like the last bottle of fine vintage wine you thought was lost forever, but found in a far corner of your basement. Open it, let it breath, and savor every drop.

Finally, after all these years, it was a distinct, and exciting, treat to find that this classic album was available on CD. (I have maintained a short list of albums that I was waiting to see transferred to CD; this and The Eclectic Vince Guaraldi were at the top of that short list.) Definitely, it was joy to scratch them off that list, and I now have them both to listen to all over again--with the instruments and overall sound as crisp and pleasing as when they were first recorded decades ago.

Vince Guaraldi was never more charming or musically inventive than here. 'Eleanor Rigby', 'Watch What Happens', and 'The Masked Marvel' are a few of the more distinctive highlights; but there's hardly a weak cut in the whole batch!

i'd been eyeing this for awhile but did't buy it because i'm working on the all around basic jazz collection.

i think everyone knows vince guaraldi for the charlie brown stuff, which is great, but then maybe they don't hear the other stuff he's made.

If you want the treatment, I'd recommend this FIRST and then maybe that to really get a feel for his music! I've been getting into the jazz messengers and have a hard time deciding which I like more, them or Vince. Or Dave Brubeck. It's so hard.

I love the simplicity of this record. I love that theres nothing too complicated or unapproachable or too many personalities at work here.

I like the fact that you can get this and pop it in and know nothing about it and just listen to it.

The surprise for me? Elenor Rigby covered.

Wow.

I had this album on tape and decided to buy the CD. It was well worth the money. He's great and I like to be in the car with the volume up when I listen to it.

When I first listened Vince Guaraldi said: Wow he is so nice and he has melodious compositions, but when I listened Alma-Ville I said : Wow he is God (not that :D)

I advice you to listen such kind of music