The Jerry Granelli Trio: “The Jerry Granelli Trio Plays Vince Guaraldi & Mose Allison” (2020) CD Review

Early in his career, drummer Jerry Granelli played with Vince Guaraldi, including on the beloved A Charlie Brown Christmas album, and after that played with Mose Allison for many years. On his new album, The Jerry Granelli Trio Plays Vince Guaraldi & Mose Allison, he revisits some of the great music of both composers, though doesn’t limit himself to their material, including a couple of original compositions as well. The trio is made up of Jerry Granelli on drums, Jamie Saft on piano, and Bradley Christopher Jones on bass.

This album opens with one of Vince Guaraldi’s most famous compositions, “Cast Your Fate To The Wind,” a tune originally included on his 1962 LP Jazz Impressions Of Black Orpheus, before Jerry Granelli began playing with him. This rendition begins with some gorgeous work on piano, then settles into that familiar groove, and builds from that. The piano has a lush full sound and is the focus, but there is also some excellent work on drums and bass. Jerry Granelli follows that with Mose Allison’s “Parchman Farm,” a song from early in Allison’s career, a long time before Granelli joined him. This is a lively, thumping track, with some fantastic work on drums, and at first is all about that rhythm, the piano rocking with it. Then in the middle, the bass and drums drop out for an interesting piano solo, taking things in a different direction, still with a sense of that rhythm, but also a wilder, unrestrained style at moments. And things get even more exciting when Granelli and Jones come back in. This is one of my favorite tracks. It is followed by another lively number, “Baby, Please Don’t Go,” also a song that Mose Allison recorded early in his career, but one that was written by Joe Williams. There is a delicious freedom to the playing, even within a strong groove. You can get totally caught up in their playing, which is particularly appealing in these days of stress and anxiety.

“Mind Prelude 1” is an original composition by Jerry Granelli and Bradley Christopher Jones, and is a duet between those two musicians (no piano on this one), with Granelli beginning it with some brush work. It’s a cool track, and ends with just drums. The Jerry Granelli Trio then returns to the work of Mose Allison, getting good and bluesy with “Everybody’s Cryin’ Mercy,” a song from his 1968 LP I’ve Been Doin’ Some Thinkin’, and one that was covered by Bonnie Raitt in 1973. Then we get some lighter, more romantic fare with “Star Song,” which has a rather cheerful vibe and some really good work on bass. That’s followed by “Young Man Blues” (also known as “Young Man”). I like how this one kind of teases us at the beginning, seeming like it’s about to kick in, and featuring some great work on drums. And soon we get a good groove, with some loose and delicious playing. I love that work on piano as they explore the groove. “Young Man’s Blues” is followed by the album’s other original composition, “Mind Prelude 2,” composed by Jerry Granelli and Bradley Christopher Jones, another duet between those two, and another cool track, featuring some great stuff on bass.

“Your Mind Is On Vacation” is a song that Mose Allison included on his 1962 LP I Don’t Worry About A Thing, and then used as the title track to his 1976 LP, the first Mose Allison album to feature Jerry Granelli on drums. This is a wild track, a delicious jam with another thumping good rhythm and some exciting work on piano. Jerry Granelli cuts loose and things just get better and better. At this point, wouldn’t we all love for our minds to be on vacation rather than just constantly focusing on all the current troubles? And this track might be working, might be taking my mind away from my surroundings. This is one of my personal favorites. The album then concludes with Vince Guaraldi’s “Christmas Time Is Here,” one of the best pieces of music ever written for the holiday, and coming from the absolute best television special, A Charlie Brown Christmas. This is a sweet rendition featuring a good bass lead.

CD Track List

1. Cast Your Fate To The Wind
2. Parchman Farm
3. Baby Please Don’t Go
4. Mind Prelude 1
5. Everybody’s Cryin’ Mercy
6. Star Song
7. Young Man Blues
8. Mind Prelude 2
9. Your Mind Is On Vacation
10. Christmas Time Is Here

The Jerry Granelli Trio Plays Vince Guaraldi & Mose Allison is scheduled to be released on June 26, 2020 on Rare Noise Records.