Here is Vince Guaraldi's breakthrough album -- musically, commercially, in every which way. After numerous records as a leader or sideman, for the first time a recognizable Guaraldi piano style emerges, with whimsical phrasing all his own, a madly swinging right hand and occasional boogie-influenced left hand, and a distinctive, throat-catching, melodic improvisational gift. The first half of the CD is taken up by cover versions of tunes from the Antonio Carlos Jobim/Luiz Bonfa score for the film Black Orpheus, recorded just as bossa nova was taking hold in America. These are genuinely jazz-oriented impressions in a mainstream boppish manner, with only a breath of samba from Monty Budwig (bass) and Colin Bailey (drums) in the opening minute of "Samba de Orpheus"; an edited version of this haunting song was issued as a 45 rpm single. But DJs soon began flipping the single over to play the B-side, a wistful, unforgettably catchy Guaraldi tune called "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" that opens the North American half of the album. The tune became a surprise hit; Fantasy redesigned the cover to call attention to it, and Vince was on his way to fame as one of Latin and mainstream jazz's most irresistible composers. The whole album evokes the ambience of San Francisco's jazz life in the 1960s as few others do -- and such is this record's appeal that even non-jazz and non-Latin music people have been grooving to this music ever since it came out.
- by Richard S. Ginell, AMGArtist: Vince Guaraldi Trio
Album: "Cast Your Fate to the Wind": Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus
Year: 1965
Label: OJC (1990)
Runtime: 37:36
Tracks:1. Samba de Orpheus (Luiz Bonfá/Maria Bonfá/Antonio Carlos Jobim) 4:37
2. Manha de Carnaval (Luiz Bonfá/Maria Bonfá/Antonio Carlos Jobim) 5:45
3. O Nosso Amor (Our Love) (Maria Bonfá/Antonio Carlos Jobim) 4:52
4. Generique (Traditional) 4:44
5. Cast Your Fate to the Wind (Vince Guaraldi) 3:05
6. Moon River (Henry Mancini) 5:16
7. Alma-Ville (Vince Guaraldi) 4:57
8. Since I Fell for You (Buddy Johnson) 4:20
Personnel:Vince Guaraldi (Piano)
Monty Budwig (Double Bass)
Colin Baley (Drums)
