Jason Frederick Cinematic Trio, Colchester Arts Centre

I’m rather hoping this recent addition to the Colchester Arts Centre’s Christmas calender is going to be a regular fixture from now on.

According to Canadian composer Jason Frederick, who now lives in Colchester, A Charlie Brown Christmas is as traditional in North America as watching a James Bond film or The Great Escape in the UK.

And after listening to the music by Vince Guaraldi that was an integral part of the show, I kind of wish from now on it gets a bigger showing over here.

As with Jason’s other excellent shows, Mods and Coppers and his Horror Soundtrack nights, part of the charm was discovering the stories behind how the music got made.

Like Dave Brubeck being asked to do the soundtrack but unfortunately being too busy.

As Charlie Brown producer Lee Mendelsohn said on a video shown as part of the evening - years later Dave wished he wasn’t busy.

But perhaps then the Charlie Brown’ specials wouldn’t have been so successful because, as Jason and his trio demonstrated so well, Vince wrote some pretty mean numbers. That includes O Tannenbaum, Christmas Time is Here and my favourite, Linus and Lucy.

What Guaraldi did which was so innovative was use jazz music in a cartoon setting therefore bringing a whole new, younger audience, to the musical genre, and what was lovely about the arts centre gig was the smattering of young people there too.

Following a short break Jason and his Trio returned for some more festive fun, this time jazzing up traditional carols such as We Three Kings and rounding off the night with The 12 Days of Christmas complete with audience participation.

Just like Christmas itself, let’s hope Jason will be back every year.