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
