The Definitive Vince Guaraldi


The Definitive Vince Guaraldi is Fantasy/Concord Records compilation album of songs by American jazz pianist/composer Vince Guaraldi released on November 3, 2009. It contains 31 tracks over two CDs, highlighting Guaraldi's Peanuts work as well his collaborations with guitarist Bola Sete.
The album was released on 180-gram vinyl on November 20, 2015 as a 4-LP box set.
As the release was label-specific containing material Guaraldi recorded for Fantasy Records, it excludes tracks from Guaraldi's three Warner Bros.-Seven Arts releases as well as Vince Guaraldi with the [San Francisco Boys Chorus] released on Guaraldi's own D&D record label. Guaraldi's three Warner Bros. albums were released separately by Omnivore Recordings as part of the 2-disc set The Complete Warner Bros.–Seven Arts Recordings in July 2018.

Critical reception

PopMatters critic Andrew Zender commented that "the buoyant brilliance of 's tunes transport you to another place — and can even make you feel like a kid again, or like dancing on a piano. Isn't that what all music is supposed to do?" AllMusic critic Al Campbell noted that The Definitive Vince Guaraldi is a "noteworthy compilation focuses not only on Guaraldi as the composer of songs from the Charlie Brown television cartoon, but as a versatile jazz pianist."

Personnel

Credits adapted from 2009 CD liner notes.
;Additional
  • Charles M. Schulz – cover illustration
  • Doug Ramsey – liner notes
  • Producer – Nick Phillips
  • Mastering – Joe Tarantino
  • Mastering – Adam Muñoz
  • Editorial – Rikka Arnold
  • Design – Jimmy Hole
  • Project Assistance – Abbey Anna, Bill Belmont, Elizabeth Boettcher, Chris Clough, Jeffrey Spector