"the 50th Anniversary of a Charlie Brown Christmas" Plus CD Release Concert at Trinity Memorial Episcopal Church

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” California pianist, Jim Martinez, will perform the Jazz music from the animated special. Martinez’s quartet will also be premiering his new CD.

Internationally known for his arrangements of church hymns set to Jazz, Northern California-based pianist, Jim Martinez, is a Steinway Artist and is classically trained. He has performed or recorded with notables like Lionel Hampton, the Stan Kenton Band, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Cheryl Bentyne of the Manhattan Transfer, and many others. Martinez has also worked as pianist and musical director for Joan Rivers and Bob Newhart. ...

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To celebrate the 50th anniversary of “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” California pianist, Jim Martinez, will perform the Jazz music from the animated special. Martinez’s quartet will also be premiering his new CD.

Internationally known for his arrangements of church hymns set to Jazz, Northern California-based pianist, Jim Martinez, is a Steinway Artist and is classically trained. He has performed or recorded with notables like Lionel Hampton, the Stan Kenton Band, the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, Cheryl Bentyne of the Manhattan Transfer, and many others. Martinez has also worked as pianist and musical director for Joan Rivers and Bob Newhart.

The concert will showcase great songs from "A Charlie Brown Christmas,” such as "Christmas Time Is Here,” "O Christmas Tree,” "Linus and Lucy,” and others written by Vince Guaraldi. Jim’s new CD, “Good Grief! It’s Still Jim Martinez”, features eight of his original songs, all written in the style of the Peanuts animated specials. The CD also includes six covers, including “Surfing’ Snoopy” and the Grammy-winning song, “Cast Your Fate to the Wind.”

In 2002, Clint Eastwood had this to say in an interview with the L.A. Daily News: "Last night, we went…where a guy named Jim Martinez was playing…They were great." Legendary Jazz pianist, Dave Brubeck, said this about Jim: "Your playing and all the musicians, including your vocalist, sound wonderful." More info on Jim at www.JimMartinez.com.

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