Tribute to Charlie Brown @ Jazz Alley

December 12 & 13  7:30 pm SOLD OUT

A Charlie Brown Christmas became an instant classic when it first aired on TV in 1965. Not only because it was the first production that brought Charles Schultz’s Peanuts comic strip characters to animated life, but also for its iconic music by the Vince Guaraldi Trio. Guaraldi’s understated jazz score added a sophisticated touch to the cartoon special. Indeed, the show’s producer, Lee Mendelson, credited much of the success of the Peanuts film franchise to Guaraldi’s distinctive music (the soundtrack, the second best-selling jazz album in history, was recently reissued in a lavish new edition).

Along with the show’s annual broadcast, this year you’ll also be able to enjoy the music in a cozy live setting, in this special tribute led by pianist/composer David Benoit (who took over the reins as music composer for Peanuts television shows over a decade ago). The tribute also features vocals by Courtney Fortune. That means you can not only be treated to instrumentals from the score, such as the signature Peanuts theme, “Linus and Lucy” (ironically, not a Christmas song), but also the show’s wistful original number, “Christmas Time is Here” (music by Guaraldi, lyrics by Mendelson). The setlist will be rounded out by nuggets from Benoit’s own illustrious catalog of 40-plus albums.