Have Yourself a Jazzy Little Christmas

Given this is my final column of the year, I knew I only had one more chance to celebrate a yearly institution: the bona fide classic given just a couple weeks of spotlight in the final months of the year. While some might only associate it with standing anxiously in holiday-sized department store lines, this unassuming collection of songs has surprising depth.

“A Charlie Brown Christmas” sees traditional tunes and original compositions expertly rendered in Vince Guaraldi’s signature style. Released concurrently with the TV special of the same name, this 1965 cut packs 40 minutes of joyfully wintry jazz into 11 tracks. Since its issuing, it has gone on to become the second-best-selling jazz album ever, and returns yearly to cast its nostalgic spell on listeners worldwide. 

While “A Charlie Brown Christmas” may never fully escape its status as just “Christmas music” (and should it?), it does provide top-tier, infectiously good jazz from top to bottom. Not to mention, it’s the quickest route to that coveted cozy winter feeling. As I listen, I imagine snow-kissed evergreens, long morning strolls and a soft, tranquil quiet. Such effortless transcendence–in this case to my idyllic winter daydream–is the mark of brilliant artistry. 

Take the seventh track, “Skating,” for a prime example of this sonic worldbuilding. Groups of cascading thirds emulate the swooping, circular indentations of a well-trod skating rink. A rock-solid bass and brushed percussion add the movement and personality of graceful skaters.

Whether original or cover, Guaraldi adds a distinctive feel to each song. Playful variations in rhythm and tempo are met with chromatic runs and inventive voicings. The album still flows smoothly, though, flipping from traditional carol to classical Romantic piece to Peanuts standard without feeling disjointed. This speaks to Guaraldi’s trademark form, which shelters “A Charlie Brown Christmas” from seeming like a stuffy, derivative take on established classics and delivers a beloved, defining work in the jazz canon.