Amid much controversy, A Charlie Brown Christmas made its television debut in December 1965, accompanied by the music of jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi and his trio.  Part of the controversy stemmed from the fact that a modern jazz pianist was scoring a children’s cartoon. This was unheard of.  Jazz was not music normally associated with children.

For nearly 40 years children (and adults) have listened to the jazz tunes of Vince Guaraldi, made famous by the Peanuts gang.  The soundtrack has become as popular, if not more so, as the perennial holiday cartoon itself.  It has taken on a life of its own and continues to be a sought after holiday music selection in music stores and online.

Vince Guaraldi was already an award winning musical artist at the time he became involved with the Charlie Brown project.  He won a Grammy in 1962 for "Cast Your Fate to the Wind," from Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus, however, his legacy will forever be dominated by the works featured in A Charlie Brown Christmas, most notably, the original tunes "Linus and Lucy," "Christmastime is Here," and my personal favorite "Christmas is Coming."

Some of the other songs on this soundtrack include very jazzy arrangements of the classic holiday tunes "O Tannenbaum," "The Christmas Song," and Guaraldi’s own interpretation of "The Little Drummer Boy" which he calls "My Little Drum." There are no large orchestrations here. This is jazz in its purest format: unplugged - just piano, drums, and bass.

Although the music on this album is holiday, there are many moments when you hear these songs and forget.  The songs become good, solid, classic jazz tunes, suitable for listening to in a dark and smoky jazz club in the wee hours of the night.

Besides the many tribute albums that exist, and the fact that many of jazz’s finest musicians and singers have covered "Linus and Lucy," and "Christmas Time Is Here," (among other Guaraldi songs), Vince Guaraldi’s legacy lives on in many ways.  It is no longer controversial for jazz musicians to compose music for television and movie soundtracks. Just ask Dave Grusin and Lalo Schriffin.

Perhaps the biggest contribution of Vince Guaraldi’s legacy is how now, almost 40 years later, he is still bringing generations of timeless, classic music to children.  For many children, it is their introduction to jazz.  And 40 years later, whether or not they become "true" jazz fans in their adulthood, part of that music stays with them.  They remember. They can identify and appreciate the music associated with S Peanuts.  You see it on their faces as they watch A Charlie Brown Christmas with their own kids, or hear these songs being played elsewhere.

I ought to know.  I’m one of those kids who grew up with the sounds of Vince Guaraldi’s A Charlie Brown Christmas, who still listens to that soundtrack every year during the holiday season.

Mary Bentley