Plenty of respect!

Following up on my January 24 post, I issued an open request for help in creating a list of jazz artists who've recorded a) original tribute compositions honoring Guaraldi; and b) covers of Guaraldi compositions other than "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" and the Charlie Brown Christmas quartet ("Linus and Lucy," "My Little Drum," "Christmas Is Coming" and "Christmas Time Is Here"). 

Covers of the Christmas album are a separate topic, initially addressed here, with a late 2023 update here.

I also asked that David Benoit and George Winston not be included, since both are well known for having released several full albums of Guaraldi covers. (In other words, they're too obvious!) That said, in order to be complete:

David Benoit

• Here's to You, Charlie Brown: 50 Great Years (2000)

• 40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas (2005)

• Jazz for Peanuts (2008)

• It's a David Benoit Christmas (2020)

George Winston

• Linus & Lucy: The Music of Vince Guaraldi, Vol. 1 (1996)

• Love Will Come: The Music of Vince Guaraldi, Vol. 2 (2010)

The request for assistance proved helpful. Scott, Chad and Ryo each supplied several suggestions; I also got more creative with Web searches, thanks to iTunes, Spotify and discogs. Then there's Paul, who was inspired by my post to establish a dynamic Wikipedia database that does include the five popular tunes I left out above. (Obviously, he has far too much free time on his hands!) He and I also traded information.

My result follows, and — given that new covers have been popping up every year — this list continues to grow. (The most recent update was late February 2024.) Listenable versions of most entries can be found somewhere on the Web, but others are quite obscure.

Let me begin by citing other full (or partial) tribute albums, a few of which are repeats from my earlier post. French horn player Aaron Brask's 2010 album, The Guaraldi Sessions, has 20 covers. (I've not included his efforts in the following list; just buy the album!) Jazz pianist Terry Disley and his quartet cover five tunes on their 2011 album, Brubeck vs. Guaraldi. Former Guaraldi drummer Jerry Granelli has three covers on his 2020 album, Plays Vince Guaraldi and Mose Allison.

Despite its somewhat misleading title, the Ku Il Oh Quartet's 2011 album, Holiday Songs Volume One, actually is entirely devoted to Guaraldi covers and fresh arrangements of material from A Charlie Brown Christmas. And speaking of misleading, the quartet known as Jake — Tony Mason, piano; Steve Rashid, horn; Gregg Emery, bass; and Hugh Barlow, drums — released a 1984 LP titled A Tribute to Evans & Guaraldi, but only two of its 10 tracks are Guaraldi tunes, both from the Christmas special. On the other hand, pianist Bruce Polson's 1997 album, The Music of Vince Guaraldi, features an even dozen of Vince's songs. (I have included those in the list below, because you'll never find the album; it's woefully out of print.)

One final caveat: I make no comments regarding quality here. Some of these tracks are sensational; some are ... well, not such a much. Most fall somewhere in between. Accept this as the thrill of discovery.

Let's start with new compositions that pay tribute to Vince:

• “Frisco (Dedicated to Vince Guaraldi),” Jim Emmons, 88

• “Guaraldi,” Bill Heller & Jeff Kashiwa, Find the Way

• “Have Yourself a Vince Guaraldi Christmas,” John Stowell/Michael Zilber Quartet, Basement Blues

• "In Tiburon," Van Morrison, Keep Me Singing

• “Mountain View,” John Zorn, Alhambra Love Songs

• “Peanuts (An Ode to Vince Guaraldi),” Robert S. Bradley & Collin Oliver, Identity Crisis

• "Thank You Mr. Guaraldi," Electric Dreams (aka Josiah Osborne)

• “Vince Guaraldi,” Diane Monroe and Tony Miceli, Alone Together

• “Waltz for Vince,” Jim Martinez, Good Grief! It’s Still Jim Martinez

********

And now for the Guaraldi covers:

• “Air Music” (aka "Surfin' Snoopy”)

Ron LeGault Quintet, Charlie Brown Goes to the Nutcracker

Jim Martinez, Good Grief! It’s Still Jim Martinez

Joey Nardone Trio, A Charlie Brown Christmas — A Tribute

Bruce Polson, The Music of Vince Guaraldi

• “Blue Charlie Brown” 

Claude Gnocchi, TrumpetAmericana

• “Charlie Brown’s All-Stars” 

Bruce Polson, The Music of Vince Guaraldi

• “Charlie Brown Theme” 

Jon Anderson, The Mother’s Day Concert

Cartoon Christmas Trio, Cartoon Christmas Trio

Nate Hance Trio, A Charlie Brown Christmas NHanced

Sandra Lambert & Mike Eaves Quartet, Too Late Now

Ron LeGault Quintet, Charlie Brown Goes to the Nutcracker

Ellis Marsalis Trio, Joe Cool’s Blues

Lori Mechem Quartet, Christmas Is Coming

Oliver Mewes Trio, Trio

Amani A. W. Murray, Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown

Joey Nardone Trio, A Charlie Brown Christmas — A Tribute

Ku Il Oh Trio, Holiday Songs Volume One

Bruce Polson, The Music of Vince Guaraldi

Isaiah J. Thompson Septet, A Guaraldi Holiday

Wayman Tisdale, 40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas

• “Freda [sic] (with the Naturally Curly Hair)” 

Will Comer, Off We Go

Andy Fielding, Playing for Keeps

• “Freeway” 

Jazz Arts Trio, Tribute

• “Ginza Samba” 

William Beatty, The Path of Green Stones

Dan Dance Trio, Live at the PY

Erik Deutsch, Live at Lunático

Alex Diaz, Beyond 145th Street

Eddie Duran, Ginza

Dick Fregulia Trio, Be There Now!

Claudio Giambruno, Overseas

Montage, Montage

Giuliano Perin's Good Vibes Quartet, Sweet Lines

Jeff Rupert & Veronica Swift, Let’s Sail Away

Craig Scott Quintet, Introducing

• “Great Pumpkin Waltz” 

Joshua Bowlus, Sleigh Ride

Chick Corea, Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown

Terry Disley, Brubeck Vs. Guaraldi

Neil Elliott Dorval, Romantic Lounge Live

Kenny Drew Jr. Trio, Secrets

C. Holmes Trio, Christmas & You

Shai Jaschek, First Fall

Larry Johnson, Circles

Brad Myers & Michael Sharfe, Sanguinaria

Joey Nardone Trio, A Charlie Brown Christmas — A Tribute

Ku Il Oh Trio, Holiday Songs Volume One

Luke Carlos O'Reilly, The Perfect Christmas

Greg Reitan, Daybreak

Mich Shirey Trio, Guitar for Guaraldi

Isaiah J. Thompson Septet, A Guaraldi Holiday

• “Guaraldi Medley” 

George Mitchell, Ten Grands Tenth Anniversary

• “Vince Guaraldi Tribute” (1 & 2) [Guaraldi Medleys] 

Bruce Smith, Piano Trilogy 2

• “Happiness Theme” 

Claude Gnocchi, TrumpetAmericana

Ron LeGault Quintet, Charlie Brown Goes to the Nutcracker

Joey Nardone Trio, A Charlie Brown Christmas — A Tribute

Ku Il Oh Trio, Holiday Songs Volume One

Bruce Polson, The Music of Vince Guaraldi

Harry Skoler, Conversations in the Language of Jazz

• “Heartburn Waltz” 

Rick Gallagher, Solo Standard Volume One

Isaiah J. Thompson Septet, A Guaraldi Holiday

• It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown

Mark Kross Trio, Cacciatore

• “Joe Cool”

B.B. King, Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown

• “Little Birdie” 

Ellis Marsalis Trio, Joe Cool’s Blues

Clara Plestis (single)

Isaiah J. Thompson Septet, A Guaraldi Holiday

Joe Williams, Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown

• “Love Will Come” 

Bruce Polson, The Music of Vince Guaraldi

Paul Tuvman, Musically Speaking

• Macedonia

Guido Pistocchi Quintet, Spring Time

• “Oh, Good Grief” 

Hue Blanes Trio, Chillin’ with Blanes

Claude Gnocchi, TrumpetAmericana

Nate Hance Trio, A Charlie Brown Christmas NHanced

Ellis Marsalis Trio, Joe Cool’s Blues

Franco Reiss, Angel Eyes

Ólafs Stephensen Trio, Nú er það svart maður!: Óli Steph í óperunni (Iceland!)

Mike Strickland, Jazz, Blues and Boogie

• “The Peanuts Medley” 

Lavender/Shell Duo, ’Round Midnight

• “Pebble Beach” 

Mason Embry Trio, A Song for You

Claude Gnocchi, TrumpetAmericana

Ron LeGault Quintet, Charlie Brown Goes to the Nutcracker

Ellis Marsalis Trio, Joe Cool’s Blues

Jane Miller Trio, Secret Pockets

Roby Perissin and the Latin Jazz Ensemble, Tribute to Latin Jazz

• “Peppermint Patty” 

Eric Byrd Trio, A Charlie Brown Christmas

Terry Disley, Brubeck Vs. Guaraldi

Nate Hance, A Charlie Brown Christmas NHanced

Lenny Marcus, Winter’s Spring

Ellis Marsalis Trio, Joe Cool’s Blues

Oliver Mewes Trio, Trio

Bruce Polson, The Music of Vince Guaraldi

• “Rain, Rain, Go Away” 

Gerry Mulligan, Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown

• “Red Baron” 

Bruce Polson, The Music of Vince Guaraldi

Lee Ritenour, Happy Anniversary, Charlie Brown

The Rippingtons, 40 Years: A Charlie Brown Christmas

Tall Jazz, How ’Bout Now

• “Schroeder” 

Nate Hance Trio, A Charlie Brown Christmas NHanced

Bruce Polson, The Music of Vince Guaraldi

• “Star Song” 

Jerry Granelli Trio, Plays the Music of Vince Guaraldi and Mose Allison

Greg Reitan, Some Other Time

• “Thanksgiving Theme” 

Joey NardoneTrio, A Charlie Brown Christmas — A Tribute

Ku Il Oh Trio, Holiday Songs Volume One

Isaiah J. Thompson Septet, A Guaraldi Holiday

• “Theme to Grace” 

Harold Betters, Funk City Express

Jim Martinez, Good Grief! It’s Still Jim Martinez

• “Treat Street” 

Terry Disley, Brubeck Vs. Guaraldi

• "Whirlpool"

Ramsey Lewis Trio, Bossa Nova

• “You’re in Love, Charlie Brown” 

Bruce Polson, The Music of Vince Guaraldi

Paul Tuvman, Musically Speaking