A Jolly Guaraldi Holiday 2017

The holiday season is upon us, and it's once again time to investigate the many Guaraldi-themed concerts taking place, most of which (of course!) are tied in to his music from A Charlie Brown Christmas.

I traced the history and growth of this delightful tradition back in 2012, with a modest schedule that now seems quaint. This new post will serve as a clearinghouse for any and all late 2017 concerts that come to my attention. As always, I'll add to this schedule as new information becomes available, so you'll want to check back frequently.

Our Canadian neighbors once again can enjoy the return of the season's most historic booking. Drummer Jerry Granelli, who worked as a member of Guaraldi's trio in the 1960s, will headline Tales of A Charlie Brown Christmas with his own trio: Simon Fisk (bass) and Chris Gestrin (piano). You'll definitely want to check out this excellent recent interview with Granelli. He began this annual celebration with a few shows in 2013, and the results were quite popular (no surprise there). Two shows have been booked thus far: Saturday, December 2, at Central United Church in Calgary, Alberta; Details; and Sunday, December 10, at the Spatz Theatre in Halifax, Nova Scotia; Details.

Pianist David Benoit has taken the year off in terms of his annual Charlie Brown Christmas show, instead joining forces with saxman Dave Koz for the latter's 20th Anniversary Christmas Tour (coinciding with the release of Koz's new CD, 20th Anniversary Christmas). Koz and Benoit will be joined by trumpeter Rick Braun, acoustic guitarist Peter White, and vocalist Selina Albright. Koz's new album includes "Christmas Time Is Here," and with Benoit on board, you can count on at least a few more Guaraldi numbers. The tour kicks off November 24 in Atlanta, Georgia, with stops in Florida, New York, Ohio, Texas, Arizona, Nevada and several other states, before concluding December 23 in Cerritos, California. Check Benoit's web site for additional information.

Pianist Eric Mintel and his quartet — Nelson Hill, sax and flute; Jack Hegyi, bass; and Dave Mohn, drums — always have a busy schedule, and this year is no different. They're presenting a Charlie Brown Christmas Special November 30 at the Buttonwood Tree, in Middletown, Connecticut (details here); and another one December 21 at the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania (details here). The band has numerous gigs in between, as you can see by checking Mintel's web site; unfortunately, he doesn't specify which are Charlie Brown Christmas shows. You'll have to investigate dates in your area.

The Heather Pierson Trio — Pierson on piano; Shawn Nadeau on bass; Craig Bryan on drums — has scheduled a tour of (thus far) six shows devoted to A Charlie Brown Christmas. Most of the shows are in Maine: They kick off December 1 in Auburn, and conclude December 22 in Bangor; with a stop in between in New Hampshire. Check her website for details.

The Cartoon Christmas Trio - Jeff Knoettner, piano; Rob Swanson, bass; Jimmy Coleman, drums - doesn't concentrate solely on music from A Charlie Brown Christmas; they also pepper their performances with tunes from other animated holiday shows, such as Frosty the Snowman and How the Grinch Stole Christmas. (Their album is a kick; give it a listen.) They have several shows scheduled thus far, starting November 22 in Wilmington, Delaware; and concluding December 21, in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Check their website for details.

The Eric Byrd Trio — Byrd, piano and vocals; Bhagwan Khalsa, acoustic bass; Alphonso Young Jr., drums and percussion — also has made a cottage industry of Guaraldi's Christmas music, going so far as to cover most of the album in a 2009 release. Byrd's combo has taken its Charlie Brown Christmas Show on the road during previous years, but this year's tour is limited to seven shows in Washington, D.C., and Maryland, from November 26 through December 21. Check his website for details.

The Ornaments, a jazz trio based in Nashville, Tennessee, is celebrating the 12th anniversary of its Charlie Brown Christmas shows. The combo — Jen Gunderman, piano; James Haggerty, bass; and Martin Lynds, drums — is doing a week's worth of gigs at The Family Wash in East Nashville, with shows each evening from Monday, December 11, through Friday, December 22. An additional kids' show takes place Saturday, December 16, at the Belcourt Theater. Details. (And if you haven't yet picked up the group's spiffy CD cover of Guaraldi's entire Charlie Brown Christmas album, what are you waiting for?)

The San Francisco Symphony once again is getting into the act, with seven performances of A Charlie Brown Christmas — Live between December 21 and 24 at Davies Symphony Hall, in downtown San Francisco, California. The concerts will feature the Symphony and Symphony Chorus, along with dancers, narration and animated backdrops. Check their website for details.

Keyboardist David Ellington and his "Peanut Gallery" are holding court during December, with five Charlie Brown Christmas dates — December 10, 17, 21, 22 and 23 — at Venkman's in Atlanta, Georgia. This appears to be a dinner theater-type arrangement; check the venue for details.

Northern California jazz pianist Jim Martinez and his combo are taking The Jazz Music from A Charlie Brown Christmas on the road, starting December 1 in Bakersfield, California; additional California dates are in Lincoln (December 5) and Newark (December 8). He then has five gigs in Florida (December 12-17). Visit his website for additional details. (And do check out his recent album tribute to Guaraldi, Charles M. Schulz and Peanuts!)

Other groups also have gotten into the act: 

• Chris White's Jazz Trio performs Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown Thanksgiving; Wednesday, November 22, at the Winter's Jazz Club, Chicago, Illinois. Details.

• The Music of Vince Guaraldi and Peanuts, with the Donovan Johnson Band (Johnson, piano; Ed Archibald, sax and flute; George Laughery, guitar; Steve Gomez, bass; Doug Montera, drums; and Kent Barnes, percussion); Sunday, November 26, at the Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha, Nebraska. Details.

• The Jeffrey Butzer Trio (Butzer, drums; T.T. Mahoney, piano; Mike Beshera, bass) performs Charlie Brown's Christmas; Saturday, December 2, at the Revelry Room, Chattanooga, Tennessee. Details. 

• Charlie Brown Goes to The Nutcracker, performed by Ron LeGault Jazz — LeGault, piano; Andrew Vogt, sax; Curtis Fox, trombone; Dave Weinand, bass; and Andreas Schmid, drums — will feature music from A Charlie Brown Christmas and the Nutcracker Ballet; Saturday, December 2, at the St. Julien Hotel & Spa's T-Zero Lounge, Boulder, Colorado. Details.

• Chris White's Jazz Trio performs Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown Christmas; Tuesday, December 5, at the Winter's Jazz Club, Chicago, Illinois. Details.

• The Jeffrey Butzer Trio (Butzer, drums; T.T. Mahoney, piano; Mike Beshera, bass) performs Charlie Brown's Christmas; Wednesday, December 6, at Madlife Stage & Studios, Woodstock, Georgia. Details. 

• A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Music of Vince Guaraldi, with the Michelle Schumann Trio (Schumann, piano; Utah Hamrick, bass; and David Sierra, drums); Thursday, December 7, at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor's Baugh Performance Hall, Belton, Texas. Details.

• The Rick Hirsch 3 (Hirsch, sax; Kirk Reese, piano; Bob Hart, bass) performs Charlie Brown Christmas Jazz; Friday, December 8, at the State Theater, State College, Pennsylvania. Details.

• The Jody Nardone Trio — Nardone, piano and vocals; Jerry Navarro, bass; and Chris Brown, drums — will play the music from A Charlie Brown Christmas and other holiday favorites; Friday, December 8, at Rudy's Jazz Room in Nashville, Tennesee. Details.

• The Ed Croft Trio (Croft, bass; Jake Malone-Brancato, piano; and Candace Simone Thomas, drums) will present the music from A Charlie Brown Christmas; Saturday, December 9, at the PAUSA Art House in Buffalo, New York. Details.

• Charlie Brown Goes to The Nutcracker, performed by Ron LeGault Jazz — LeGault, piano; Andrew Vogt, sax; Curtis Fox, trombone; Dave Weinand, bass; and Andreas Schmid, drums — will feature music from A Charlie Brown Christmas and the Nutcracker Ballet; Saturday, December 9, at the St. Julien Hotel & Spa's T-Zero Lounge, Boulder, Colorado. Details.

• The Jody Nardone Trio — Nardone, piano and vocals; Jerry Navarro, bass; and Chris Brown, drums — will play the music from A Charlie Brown Christmas and other holiday favorites; Saturday, December 9, at Rudy's Jazz Room in Nashville, Tennesee. Details.

• The Aidan Scrimgeour Trio (Scrimgeour, piano; Matt Estabrook, upright bass; and Jackson Fulk-Logon, drums) will present A Charlie Brown Jazz Piano Christmas; Saturday, December 9, at Studio FOLI, Salem, Massachusetts. Details.

• A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Music of Vince Guaraldi, with the Michelle Schumann Trio (Schumann, piano; Utah Hamrick, bass; and David Sierra, drums); Saturday, December 9, at the Stateside Theater in Austin, Texas. Details.

• A Charlie Brown Christmas, with the Jose Gonzales Trio (Gonzales, piano; Michael Marcus, bass; and Matt Jorgensen, drums); Sunday, December 10 -- both an afternoon family matinee and an evening performance -- at the Cornish Playhouse in Seattle, Washington. Details.

• The Malcolm Granger Trio (Granger, piano; Rich Hill, bass; Michael Dunford, drums) performs A Charlie Brown Christmas; Sunday, December 10, at the Cotuit Center for the Arts, Cotuit, Massachusetts. Details.

• Chris White's Jazz Trio performs Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown Christmas; Sunday, December 10, at the Lincoln Park Zoo's Cafe Brauer, Chicago, Illinois. Details.

• The Aidan Scrimgeour Trio (Scrimgeour, piano; Matt Estabrook, upright bass; and Jackson Fulk-Logon, drums) will present A Charlie Brown Jazz Piano Christmas; Monday, December 11, at Tufts University's Distler Performance Hall, Medford, Massachusetts. Details.

• The Ed Vezinho/Jim Ward Big Band, with guest vocalist Cathy Rocco, presents A Charlie Brown Christmas; Monday, December 11, at the Gateway Playhouse, Somers Point, New Jersey. Details.

• The Jerrod Cattey Trio (Cattey, drums; Darren Litzie, keyboards; and Kevin Smith, bass) will perform the music from A Charlie Brown Christmas; Tuesday, December 12, at Three Sheets, New Haven, Connecticut. Details.

• The Doc Watson Trio (Watson, piano; Brandon Rivas, bass; and Graeme Francis, drums) will present music from A Charlie Brown Christmas; Wednesday, December 13, at the club Jazz Texas, San Antonio, Texas. Details.

• The Music Carolina Jazz Trio (Federico Pivetta, piano; Matt Kendrick, bass; and John Wilson, drums) will present beloved selections from A Charlie Brown Christmas; Wednesday, December 13, at Salem College's Shirley Recital Hall, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Details.

• Guitar for Guaraldi, featuring the Dave Brandwein Trio, will transpose the classic piano stylings of A Charlie Brown Christmas for a guitar lead; Thursday, December 14, at the Heartland Café, Chicago, Illinois. Details.

• Chris White's Jazz Trio performs Vince Guaraldi's Charlie Brown Christmas; Thursday, December 14, at the Winter's Jazz Club, Chicago, Illinois. Details.

• The Jeffrey Butzer Trio (Butzer, drums; T.T. Mahoney, piano; Mike Beshera, bass) performs Charlie Brown's Christmas; Thursday, December 14, at Saturn, Birmingham, Alabama. Details. 

• Pianist Adam Shulman plays Vince Guaraldi's A Charlie Brown Christmas; two shows daily Thursday through Sunday, December 14-17, at the SFJAZZ Center, San Francisco, California. Details.

• The Jeffrey Butzer Trio (Butzer, drums; T.T. Mahoney, piano; Mike Beshera, bass) performs Charlie Brown's Christmas; Friday, December 15, at The Earl, in Atlanta, Georgia. Details.

• Guitar for Guaraldi, featuring the Dave Brandwein Trio, will transpose the classic piano stylings of A Charlie Brown Christmas for a guitar lead; Friday, December 15, at The Radler (a German beer hall), Chicago, Illinois. Details.

• Chris White's Jazz Trio performs A Peanuts Christmas; Friday, December 15, at the Gorton Community Center, Lake Forest, Illinois. Details.

• Jazz guitarist Chris Von Staats and his band will perform music from A Charlie Brown Christmas; Friday, December 15, at The Skinny Pancake, Hanover, New Hampshire. Details.

• A Charlie Brown Christmas with the Karl Stabnau Quartet (Stabnau, woodwinds; Jacob Dupre, piano; Danny Ziemann, bass; and Eric Metzgar, drums); Saturday, December 16, at Jazz Central, in Syracuse, New York. Details.

• Charlie Brown Goes to The Nutcracker, performed by Ron LeGault Jazz — LeGault, piano; Andrew Vogt, sax; Curtis Fox, trombone; Dave Weinand, bass; and Andreas Schmid, drums — will feature music from A Charlie Brown Christmas and the Nutcracker Ballet; Saturday, December 16, at the St. Julien Hotel & Spa's T-Zero Lounge, Boulder, Colorado. Details.

• The Jeffrey Butzer Trio (Butzer, drums; T.T. Mahoney, piano; Mike Beshera, bass) performs Charlie Brown's Christmas; Saturday, December 16, at The Earl, in Atlanta, Georgia. Details.

• The Alex Murphy Trio — Murphy, piano; Mary Halm, bass; and Jeremy Benshish, drums and cymbals — will perform music from A Charlie Brown Christmas; Saturday, December 16, at the Vero Voce School of Music, St. Charles, Illinois. Details.

• A Charlie Brown Jazz Christmas, with the Joe Cool Trio (Chris Spies, piano; Chris Severin, bass; and John Milham, drums); Saturday, December 16, at the Mobile Saenger Theatre in Mobile, Alabama. Details.

• A Charlie Brown Christmas, with the Jose Gonzales Trio (Gonzales, piano; Michael Marcus, bass; and Matt Jorgensen, drums); Saturday, December 16 at the Tim Noah Thumbnail Theater, Snohomish, Washington. Details.

• Charlie Brown Goes to The Nutcracker, performed by Ron LeGault Jazz — LeGault, piano; Andrew Vogt, sax; Curtis Fox, trombone; Dave Weinand, bass; and Andreas Schmid, drums — will feature music from A Charlie Brown Christmas and the Nutcracker Ballet; Sunday, December 17, at Rory's Tavern, Denver, Colorado. Details.

• One for our friends across the pond! The Jason Frederick Cinematic Trio (Frederick, piano; Scott Wheeler, double bass; and Dan Mullins, drums) will present music from A Charlie Brown Christmas along with other Guaraldi hits, plus a selection of Guaraldi-esque Christmas tunes; Sunday, December 17, at the Colchester Arts Centre, Essex, England. Details.

• Guitar for Guaraldi, featuring the Dave Brandwein Trio, will transpose the classic piano stylings of A Charlie Brown Christmas for a guitar lead; Sunday, December 17, at The Café Mustache, Chicago, Illinois. Details.

• The Duncan Cooper Trio — Cooper, piano; John Beach, bass; and James Mackenzie, drums — will perform the music from A Charlie Brown Christmas; Sunday, December 17, at St. Andrew's Church, Picton, Ontario. Details.

• A Charlie Brown Jazz Christmas, with the Joe Cool Trio (Chris Spies, piano; Chris Severin, bass; and John Milham, drums); Sunday, December 17, at the Laurel Little Theater in Laurel, Mississippi. Details.

• The Ed Vezinho/Jim Ward Big Band, with guest vocalist Cathy Rocco, presents A Charlie Brown Christmas; Monday, December 18, at the Gateway Playhouse, Somers Point, New Jersey. Details.

• Bassist Andrew Randazzo leads a 15-piece big band, dubbed The R4nd4zzo Bigb4nd, in a tribute to the music of Vince Guaraldi, with particular emphasis on the score to A Charlie Brown Christmas; Monday, December 18, at The Vagabond, Richmond, Virginia. Details.

• The "Piano Starts Here" series will present The Music of A Charlie Brown Christmas, featuring keyboardists Dawn Clement, Tim Kennedy and Chris McCarthy; Monday, December 18, at The Royal Room, Seattle, Washington. Details.

• The "Piano Starts Here" series will present The Music of A Charlie Brown Christmas, featuring keyboardists Ryan Burns, Even Captain, Alex Guilbert and Daniel Salka; Monday, December 18, at The Royal Room, Seattle, Washington. Details.

• The Tim Stine Quartet (Stine, guitar; Nick Mazzarella, reeds; Matt Ulery, double bass; and Quin Kirchner, traps) will perform music from A Charlie Brown Christmas; Tuesday, December 19, at The California Clipper, Chicago, Illinois. Details.

• The Pete Peterson Trio (Peterson, piano; Danny Kiely, bass; and Bruce Morrow, drums) will take patrons through the Charlie Brown Christmas album, followed by a second set of holiday standards; Wednesday, December 20, at Jimmy Can't Dance (that's a club), Louisville, Kentucky. Details.

• The Peter Shea Trio (Shea, piano and vocals; Clark Johnson, bass; and Terry Clarke, drums; along with special guest James Bryan, guitar) will be featured in The Music of A Charlie Brown Christmas; Wednesday, December 20, at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Details.

• Jazz pianist Peter Roberts headlines A Charlie Brown Christmas; Thursday, December 21, at the jazz club Noce, Des Moines, Iowa. Details.

• The Yuletide Saints Jazz Trio — James Raymond, keyboards; Andrew Ford, bass; and Steve DiStanislao, drums — will perform the score from A Charlie Brown Christmas; Thursday, December 21, at Coffee Gallery Backstage, Altadena, California. Details.

• The Jerrod Cattey Trio (Cattey, drums; Darren Litzie, keyboards; and Kevin Smith, bass) will perform the music from A Charlie Brown Christmas; Thursday, December 21, at Sasso's Coal-Fired Pizza, Torrington, Connecticut. Details.

• The third annual Snow Globe Show will kick off with a performance of the music from A Charlie Brown Christmas, by the Mack Grout Trio (Grout, piano; Devin Lowe, bass; and Adam Kessler, drums); Thursday, December 21, at the Fremont Abbey Arts Center, Seattle, Washington. Details.

• The Adam Bowman Trio (Bowman, drums; Thomas Hammerton, piano; and Tyler Wagler, bass) will present A Very Charlie Brown Concert; Thursday, December 21, at the Guelph Youth Music Centre, Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Details.

• The Pete Peterson Trio (Peterson, piano; Danny Kiely, bass; and Bruce Morrow, drums) will take patrons through the Charlie Brown Christmas album, followed by a second set of holiday standards; Thursday, December 21, at Jimmy Can't Dance (that's a club), Louisville, Kentucky. Details.

• The Adam Price Group (Price, sax, flute and clarinet; Mike Masciangelo, piano; and Matt Campbell, bass) will present the full Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack; Friday, December 22, at The Bridge Inn, Oley, Pennsylvania. Details.

• The Jeremy Baum Trio (Baum, keyboards; Brandon Morrison, acoustic bass; and Manuel Quintana, drums) will present A Charlie Brown Christmas Tribute; Saturday, December 23, at The Falcon, Marlboro, New York. Details.

• Charlie Brown Goes to The Nutcracker, performed by Ron LeGault Jazz — LeGault, piano; Andrew Vogt, sax; Curtis Fox, trombone; Dave Weinand, bass; and Andreas Schmid, drums — will feature music from A Charlie Brown Christmas and the Nutcracker Ballet; Saturday, December 23, at the St. Julien Hotel & Spa's T-Zero Lounge, Boulder, Colorado. Details.

• Jazz pianist Peter Roberts headlines A Charlie Brown Christmas; Saturday, December 23, at the jazz club Noce, Des Moines, Iowa. Details.

• Touring and session trumpeter Mike Lewis will present the music from A Charlie Brown Christmas at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Sunday, December 24, at Honolulu's Blue Note Hawaii. Details.

• Touring and session trumpeter Mike Lewis will present the music from A Charlie Brown Christmas at 6:30 and 9 p.m. Monday, December 25, at Honolulu's Blue Note Hawaii. Details.

• The Charlie Brown Trio (Andrew Boudreau, piano; John MacLeod, bass; and Will Fisher, drums) will present their sixth annual performance of music from A Charlie Brown Christmas; Wednesday, December 27, at Roadside Willie's Smokehouse & Bar, Bible Hill (Truro), Nova Scotia. Details.

Once more unto the breach, dear friends...

In what has become an annual tradition, we have yet another re-release of A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Craft Recordings, the catalog division of Concord Music, has produced a high-end vinyl reissue that will hit retail outlets on November 17. The LP was pressed onto 180-gram vinyl, and housed in an old-school style, tip-on jacket, featuring the artwork from the original 1965 LP. Lacquers for the album were cut by George Horn and Anne-Marie Suenram at Fantasy Studios, while the vinyl was pressed at Quality Record Pressings.

This have given Concord a good excuse for some proud boasting, and I'll let them quote some fun statistics:

A Charlie Brown Christmas, certified 4X Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2016, is one of the best-selling jazz albums in history, second only to Miles Davis' Kind of Blue. It's no surprise: Guaraldi's engaging score to the synonymous holiday television special has introduced generations of children and their parents to the joys of jazz, with tracks such as the instantly recognizable "Linus and Lucy," and the yuletide favorite "Christmas Time Is Here." The album was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007, and the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry five years later, and continues to be a perennial favorite, thanks in part to annual airings of the TV special.

The price isn't too bad, either; pre-orders can be made at Amazon.

But wait; that's not all! Barnes & Noble has released a new picture-disc vinyl LP, which you can order here. (B&N did the same thing last year, albeit with a different image; that album has become quite difficult to find.)

Just in case you need another copy ... or two!