Customer Reviews

Charlie Brown Christmas

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I regard Guaraldi's original "A Charlie Brown Christmas" album as rather sacred material. I listen to it regularly year-round and it represents some of my fondest memories, old and new. In spite of that high measure, I find Chestnut's revisitation an outstanding recording which is both original and somehow respectful to its namesake. Chestnut has made the piece his own, and he does so as someone with reverence for both the musical form and the spirit of Guaraldi's album. The playing is expert, but appropriately loose. Although the album explores different styles and instrumentation (the harmonica adds great character to "Skating"), it remains comfortingly coherent. I often find modern holiday recordings to be mundanely homogenous or so eclectic you can't listen from beginning to end. If you are attached to the original album and program, simply listen to the Chestnut's new composition, "Me and Charlie Brown". You will hear that it comes from the hands of a great musician who, if flipping through channels came across a Charlie Brown special on TV, would stop and watch it through to the end.

Cyrus Chestnut and Friends have done a great job recreating the old Charlie Brown X-Mas music and including some new music not presently on the original. I think the music has been put together in a fun and jazzy way, and I would reccommend it to any Cyrus Chestnut and Friends enthusiasts. But although it is this good, there is still something about Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown Christmas I like better. Even so, I would reccommend Cyrus's music to anyone out there looking for fun and exciting Christmas music.

This stylish re-working of the Charlie Brown Christmas music is particularly poignant considering the recent death of Charles Schulz. In fact, I've heard that this was the last project that he approved prior to his death. It's just fun to sit back, relax, and let the memories of Christmases past wash over one. Watching the "Charlie Brown Christmas" special was a favorite holiday family event. Enjoy-----

Having read some of the other reviews, I felt a need to respond. Of course it's not exactly like the TV special's soundtrack - what would be the point of that? No one can duplicate the marvelous, timeless work of Vince Guaraldi, but Mr. Chestnut does an excellant interpretive turn on it. Yeah, it's different, but it's remarkable jazz, wonderfully musical, and adds a little modernistic zing into the classics. If you want EXACTLY the soundtrack, then don't bother. If you like variety and true jazz, you will love this twist on V.Guaraldi's classics. Even Lucy couldn't find fault with this album (I DARE you not to get up and dance to this Latin-flavored "Fur Elise"!!).

For those of us that grew up in the 60's, 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' is a must see show, and must hear music. The song 'Linus and Lucy' is my favorite. I'm sure everyone that has played this CD at a Christmas party has had comments like 'Hey, I know that song. It's from Charlie Brown!' It's tradition at our house to watch the show and play the CD, it helps make it Christmas. Don't miss this one, you'll be very glad you bought it.

I first heard bits of this CD on a NPR show several years ago and then bought the album. I love Chestnut's playing, which is so versatile, and the incredible riffs of the other jazz musicians on this cd. I know most people love to hate "Little Drummer Boy" but the blues rendition on this CD is just amazing, particularly the trombone solo. And I also love the calypso version of Fur Elise. The Greensleeves is amazing also.

I received this CD from a giver who thought it was the original Guaraldi CD; so I was a little disappointed at first - but this recording has grown on me. Chestnut has reproduced the original Guaraldi themes on a few tracks, but more of the tracks are variations on his own new theme (stated in Track 1), mixed with new arrangements of Christmas standards and solid backing from a list of light jazz all-stars. I have both this CD and the Guaraldi Christmas in the changer, and shuffle them together - a perfect blend.

Instead of comparing CYRUS CHESNUT AND FRIENDS: A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS to Vince Guaraldi's original Charlie Brown Christmas, what comes to mind when hearing Chesnut's version is an excellent collection of Christmas songs old and new. Chesnut pays homage to his childhood memory as well as many other children's and adult's memories of songs and images of the Christmas season, which includes Santa, Rudolph, and especially the Peanuts gang who show us all what the real meaning of Christmas is.

What is different from Guaraldi's record are two Chesnut original compositions, "Me and Charlie Brown" and the short "Baby Dance". Chesnut tickles the ivories with this relaxing and refreshing melody, which then proceeds to his version of "Skating" and "My Little Drum". Most of the tracks on the record are quite listenable all the way through. The record contains guest vocalists, Vanessa Williams, Brian McKnight, and the Manhattan Transfer who accompany Chesnut to memorable renditions of "The Christmas Song", "What Child Is This?", "Christmas Time Is Here," whic is one of the highlights of the record with its glorious choral accompaniment by the Boys Choir of Harlem. These tunes add a smooth jazz tone to the album as well as other notable tracks, such as the Latin sounding version of "Fur Elise", which may suit Salsa dancers out there, Peanuts' theme, "Linus and Lucy," and to add a little of jazz funk to the mix, "Christmas Is Coming." And to top off the record, the closing tracks, Greensleeves" and "Hark The Herald Angels Sing" are two perennial favorites not to miss.

CYRUS CHESNUT AND FRIENDS is the perfect record to play during any Christmas gathering or during a relaxing end of the day.

I had this CD but ended up misplacing it. This is one of my favorite Christmas CD's so I had to replace it. The nostalgia of the songs from a Charlie Brown Christmas combined with the talented Cyrus Chestnut makes this CD a must have for the Holidays.

Ordered this on a lark as it was a closeout years ago. This is one of those gems that you hope for as a cd collector: an unknown becomes an all time favorite. Cyrus takes what are already incredible tunes and tweeks them. Sometimes a song opening could be completely different, transitioning into the old familiar melody. Or a song melody could be completely reworked, making the old tune into something new. The Love Cyrus has for this set of Vince Guaraldi Trio Christmas songs is apparent throughout this disc. Always one of the first albums to be played in the holiday season in our home.