Customer Reviews

Grace Cathedral Concert

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

 

 

This project first began when the Rt. Rev. James A. Pike - the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of California - and the Rev. C. Julian Bartlett - the Dean of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco - became interested in an idea held by the Rev. Charles Gompertz of Novato, CA, to create a "modern setting for the choral Eucharist." The jazz pianist and composer Vince Guaraldi was invited to be a part of the project, and the resulting effort is chronicled on this album. The introduction by Bishop Pike carefully frames the purpose of the May 21, 1965 event: to celebrate the Eucharist. Unlike other attempts at contemporizing liturgical settings, the Grace Cathedral concert, although not meant to be a performance, retains the solemn dignity of the service while subtly using the modern metaphor of jazz as a means of musical expression. This can be noted especially in the Latin-jazz variations of 'Kyrie Eleison' and 'Agnus Dei(O Lamb of God)'. 'Theme to Grace' provides a light diversion from the chanting, allowing Guaraldi, as well as bassist Tom Beeson and drummer Lee Charlton, to offer their musical talents. While 'Holy Communion Blues' literally serves as the distribution music, it gently but deliberately calls to mind the mixed mood of the Last Supper: stoic, yet humble. Whether you are an admirer of fine church music, or are a Guaraldi fan, you will be awestruck by what you hear. Vince Guaraldi truly left behind a liturgical treasure in this album.

It's wonderful to read these reviews and know that after 40 years, people are still enjoying this once-revolutionary jazz mass. However, I would like to set the record straight on one point....it was not the Grace Cathedral Choir performing this piece - it was the St. Paul's Episcopal Choir from San Rafael, CA, directed by my father, Barry Mineah and it was not only his childrens' choir, but also the adult choir who performed. In fact, I, along with my mother and one of my brothers, was a member of that choir.

I'm please to learn you have this album...I had it a record when first released in the 60's. It's a marriage of jazz and religious music with the Grace Cathedral Choir accompanying Guaraldi. I find the sounds awesome, and I am not a religious person!!

Jazz pianist (and composer) Vince Guaraldi -- largely overlooked (wrongly so) by contemporary critics/jazz historians -- shines throughout this landmark album/CD, recorded 'live' at San Francisco's Grace Cathedral.

His piano work (particularly a deft, boogie-woogie inspired, left hand which many current pianists, myself included, would kill for) is largely submerged in this album, sublimated in favor of his various compositions as here rendered by Grace Cathedral's Children's Chorus.

Guaraldi, in this album (the performance and recording of which was accomplished in concert with Grace Cathedral's then-bishop James Pike), contents himself with the role of accompanist, letting his music (beautifully rendered herein) speak for itself. And the music more than does.

"Vince Guaraldi at Grace Cathedral" (which, by the way, spawned a solid singles hit -- "Theme To Grace" -- on at least the local, SF Bay Area level) is a 'devotional;' put another way, it's Guaraldi's attempt to 'pay his dues.' Put any way you care to, the album is solid-gold!

"The Grace Cathedral Concert" is not actually a concert in the usual sense (i.e. live versions of familiar classics). It is, instead, Vince Guaraldi's performance of an original, specially commissioned episcopal jazz mass - i.e. a jazz version of the Christian liturgy.

Unlike similar efforts by artists such as Dave Brubeck and Duke Ellington, Guaraldi does not water down his jazz to accomodate the sacred subject matter. To the contrary, this is Guaraldi at his "Black Orpheus" and "Linus & Lucy" best, swinging along with the choir's chant. At times, the contrast can be unsettling. However, the work also has a strange charm. Unlike other efforts at "popular" church music, Guaraldi has created something original, beautiful, and musically worthy in its own right.

If you have not heard this recording, do yourself a favor and get a copy of this unusual masterpiece.

Few people know that Vince Guaraldi and the team that produced the Grace Cathedral event were making history. This was not a concert, it was a worship experience, a Holy Eucharist. This was the first use of jazz in the liturgy in a cathedral setting, and perhaps anywhere in the USA. There had been jazz liturgies in England (the Beaumont Mass) but none here. This was 1964 - before guitars and bands had become common in the worship experience. This was a bold step forward musically in the liturgy.

Vince Guaraldi blended improvisation with ancient plainsong liturgical music. Familiar hymns were also a part of the service. By doing this all the participants had a familiar starting place in their worship experience. The result is dynamic, uplifting and deeply spiritually moving.

The Rev. Charles Gompertz

There was a time a while ago when both Catholicism and Episcopalianism were trying to bring real joy and musical enthusiasm into liturgy. In fact, I remember many an ecumenical encounter in the years close to when this album was first put out.

As a Catholic, I particularly liked musicians Joe Wise and Carey Landry in the early '70s. Guaraldi's Episcopalian performance here reminds me of my favorite Wise and Landry albums (Gonna Sing My Lord and Hi God). Through all the authentic, emotional liturgical music of that era runs an aperture, a bridge, through which true human emotions can fill the space between pews, between pew and altar, between altar and God. Guaraldi plays and we become more attentive to the Holy Spirit working within us.

Yes, I like Guaraldi quite a bit, and his performance here as a jazz effort is impressive. My only negative remark is that the equipment used to record this mass was not at all capable of magnifying the jazz musicians sufficiently. I feel tired sometimes trying to strain out Guaraldi's playing from the waves that carry everything to the ceiling.

I recommend you play #6 and #10 a lot. You will recognize many familiar riffs from Jazz Orpheus and Charlie Brown songs especially on #10.

20 years ago, a friend of mine at Xerox played me this music from Vince Guaraldi; I previously thought I had every piece of music he played. Vince was such an amazing musician ... brilliant.

I support R. Mineah's posting- I was a boy in the choir for this recording. It was indeed the St Paul's Episcopal Church in San Rafael. Barry Mineah was a great influence for us boys- in rehearsals and on the camping trips in the Sierras.

I was just a kid and in the St. Paul's choir with my brother and sister...we had the most wonderful choir director: Barry Mineah - just a giant of a person and completely devoted to music and to us.

We found out we were going to do a jazz mass with the Vince Guaraldi Trio at Grace Cathedral and although none of us knew who Vince Guaraldi was at that moment, we were to find out shortly that he was an impish, mischievous, fabulous man with a heart of gold and the ability to coax incredible music out of a piano...

We practiced for what seemed like endless months to learn these songs to perfection and finally the day of the Mass arrived. I remember it like it was yesterday.

I am a zealot when it comes to telling folks about this CD - It is a magnificent piece of creation and a wonderful gift to God and to music lovers of every age and taste.

Take a listen! I think this CD will blow you away!!! (BTW, I am STILL a member of St. Paul's Church!)

John Leydecker
San Rafael, CA