Derrick Bang

Most of us know Vince Guaraldi as the guy who wrote and performed the piano scores to the Peanuts television specials. The Linus and Lucy theme is forever stored in the memories of countless listeners, whether they know it by name or not. Derrick Bang’s biography, Vince Guaraldi at the Piano, offers an in-depth description of Guaraldi’s multifaceted musical career - a history most are unaware of. Unfortunately, Bang’s outline is a bit overdone, becoming tedious for the reader who was looking forward to a more complete life history. However, to the jazz enthusiast or musician, it is a great chronicle of Guaraldi’s musical career.

Bang does cover some of Guaraldi’s history and influences. In particular, he takes an interesting look inside the music business at that time, including the development and nature of contracts between record companies and performers. Guaraldi was an active musician and writer during a period when the recording companies received the lion’s share of the artists’ proceeds. Very little went to the artist. For example, Guaraldi received a mere 5% share of all his earnings – an inequitable sum, comparatively.

Overall, this is a well written study of Mr. Guaraldi’s musical career. However, it is not for one who is looking for a comprehensive biography. It is more like an expanded provenance. It is an excellent chronicle of a musician who aspired to reach us, not by writing hits, but rather standards - music that feels comfortable and familiar, “the first time you hear it.” Fans of David Benoit, George Winston and Bola Sete will find much of interest in this book, as well.

A post note on behalf of the author and for others reference: the classical guitarist Andre Segovia is erroneously referred to as “Andrew”; and, the State University of New York at Potsdam is said to be in Syracuse where, in fact, it is located considerably more to the North in Potsdam.… (plus d'informations)