Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus is the third album by American jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi (credited to the Vince Guaraldi Trio), released in 1962 on Fantasy Records. It is considered Guaraldi's breakthrough album.
The album contains both original compositions and covers of songs from the 1959 French/Brazilian film Black Orpheus which won an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film. It spawned the hit single "Cast Your Fate to the Wind", which won the 1963 Grammy Award for Best Original Jazz Composition.
Release
Some later pressings of the LP have the single's title displayed prominently at the top of the cover, and the album title in the box underneath. Consequently, this album is often referred to as Cast Your Fate to the Wind.
Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus was released in 1983 in a half-speed mastered edition by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab. Another remastered version was released with five bonus tracks on Fantasy Records imprint, Original Jazz Classics label, on September 28, 2010. In addition, DCC Compact Classics issued the album on a Gold CD in 1993.
A 60th anniversary remastered edition sourced from original master and analog tapes was released in CD and digital formats on November 18, 2022 by Craft Recordings. A 3-LP vinyl set was released on February 23, 2023.
Critical reception
Billboard sensed the genre crossover appeal of "Cast Your Fate to the Wind": "The alternately bright and brooding moods of the music from the film Black Orpheus are detailed with sensitivity and style by pianist Guaraldi and his rhythm section. This jazz version is a superior outing for the group and its vastly underrated leader. The four tunes from the score fill out one side of the LP, while standards and originals take up the other. Of these, the Calypso-tinged 'Cast Your Fate to the Wind' is a wonderful track indeed."
Cashbox was equally enthusiastic: "Once in a great while, a jazz version of a film has exceptional merit in its own right. Such a case is Vince Guaraldi's impressive reading of four selections from Black Orpheus. The 88'er, along with bassist Monty Budwig and drummer Colin Bailey, put a new swingin' vitality to the flick's Latin and African-flavored melodies."
Track listing
Original 1962 release
Original Jazz Classics CD remaster (2010)
60th Anniversary Deluxe reissue (2022)
Personnel
Vince Guaraldi Trio
Vince Guaraldi – piano
Colin Bailey – drums
Monty Budwig – double bass
Additional
Ray Fowler – engineer
Bernie Grundman – engineer (2022 remaster) Ralph J. Gleason – liner notes Derrick Bang – liner notes (2010, 2022 small batch 180-gram vinyl pressing) Andrew Gilbert – liner notes (2022 remaster)