In 1962, music critic Ralph J. Gleason filmed jazz musician Vince Guaraldi’s recording sessions of…
In 1962, music critic Ralph J. Gleason filmed jazz musician Vince Guaraldi's recording sessions of "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" and the album Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus. These long-forgotten films were restored in high definition and featured the documentary The Anatomy of Vince Guaraldi.
Released in 2009, the film was directed by Andrew Thomas, who also co-produced the film with the son of Guaraldi, Toby Gleason. It has never been available on home video or streaming, but will be coming out in time for the 2016 holiday season.
Also featured in the documentary, alongside the 1962 footage, are previously unseen films and unpublished audio recordings from many years later.
Gleason stated in a press release: "even we were surprised to find performances, interviews, and shots of Vince wandering through the jazz clubs of North Beach in San Francisco. This rare footage illustrates a vibrant time in music, and it's completely fresh."
Guaraldi was a jazz musician and pianist noted for his innovative compositions and arrangements. He is perhaps best known as the music composer of the animated series adaptation of the Peanuts comic strip and is widely acknowledged as the inspiration for Snoopy's "Joe Cool" character, and for his groundbreaking "Jazz Mass" at Grace Cathedral, San Francisco.
For more information, go to http://www.anatomyofvinceguaraldi.com/