The Jacques Loussier Trio was a French

Third Stream Third stream is a music genre that is a fusion of jazz and classical music. The term was coined in 1957 by composer Gunther Schuller in a lecture at Brandeis University. Improvisation is generally seen as a vital component of third stream. Schull ...

jazz piano trio, led by pianist

Jacques Loussier Jacques Loussier (26 October 1934 – 5 March 2019) was a French pianist and composer. He arranged jazz interpretations of many of the works of Johann Sebastian Bach, such as the ''Goldberg Variations''. The Jacques Loussier Trio, founded in 19 ...

, that became known for its

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

interpretations of

European classical music Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical music, as the term "classical music" also ...

. They were commonly known in France as "le trio Play Bach" after the title of their first LPs. The trio was formed in 1959 by Loussier, bass player

Pierre Michelot Pierre Michelot (3 March 1928 – 3 July 2005) was a French jazz double bass player and arranger. Early life Michelot was born in Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, Paris on 3 March 1928. He studied piano from 1936 until 1938. He switched to playi ...

and percussionist

Christian Garros Christian Garros (February 17, 1920, Paris – August 23, 1988, Rouen) was a French jazz drummer and bandleader. Garros began playing professionally shortly after the end of World War II, working with Django Reinhardt and Jacques Hélian. He was a ...

. They reworked mostly

Baroque music Baroque music ( or ) refers to the period or dominant style of Western classical music composed from about 1600 to 1750. The Baroque style followed the Renaissance period, and was followed in turn by the Classical period after a short transiti ...

, in particular that by

Johann Sebastian Bach Johann Sebastian Bach (28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the late Baroque period. He is known for his orchestral music such as the '' Brandenburg Concertos''; instrumental compositions such as the Cello Suites; keyboard w ...

but also by

Vivaldi Antonio Lucio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 – 28 July 1741) was an Italian composer, virtuoso violinist and impresario of Baroque music. Regarded as one of the greatest Baroque composers, Vivaldi's influence during his lifetime was widespread a ...

and other composers, to fit their own style and instruments. The group was commercially successful but less popular with critics and jazz purists. They toured Germany in 1966.''Billboard'' - 26 Nov 1966 - Page 48 Vol. 78, No. 48 "BONN — The Bonn government has endorsed the current tour of West Germany by the Jacques Loussier Trio as a "noteworthy contribution to Franco-German cultural understanding." The government is pleased because the' French trio is not ..." In 1985, Loussier formed a new trio with percussionist André Arpino and double-bassist Vincent Charbonnier. In 1997 the latter role was taken over by Benoit Dunoyer de Segonzac.

Selected discography

*2014: Concertos pour violon no 1 et no 2 (Naxos CD 8.573200, avec sonate de Ignacy Jan Paderewski sur le même album) *2006: Bach: The Brandenburgs (Telarc CD-83644) *2005: Mozart Piano Concertos 20/23 (Telarc CD-83628) *2004: Impressions of Chopin's Nocturnes (Telarc CD-83602) *2003: Beethoven: Allegretto from Symphony No. 7: Theme and Variations (Telarc CD-83580) *2002: Handel: Water Music & Royal Fireworks (Telarc CD 83544) *2001: Baroque Favorites. Jazz Improvisations: Works by Handel, Marais, Scarlatti, Marcello, Albinoni (Telarc CD 83516) *2000: Play Bach No. 5 (Decca 159 194-2) *2000: Play Bach aux Champs Élysées (Decca) *2000: Play Bach No. 4 (Decca 157 893-2) *2000: Play Bach No. 3 (Decca 157 892-2) *2000: Play Bach No. 2 (Decca 157 562-2) *2000: Play Bach No. 1 (Decca 157 561-2) *2000: Plays Debussy (Telarc CD 83511) *2000: Bach's Goldberg Variations (Telarc CD 83479) *2000: Bach Book 40th Anniversary (Telarc CD 83474), compilation Play Bach 93 *1999: Ravel's Bolero (Telarc CD 83466) *1998: Satie (Telarc CD 83431) *1997: Jacques Loussier Plays Vivaldi (Telarc CD 83417) *1995: Jacques Loussier Plays Bach (Telarc), compilation Play Bach 93 et Les Thèmes en Ré (Note Productions) *1994: Play Bach Aujourd'hui Les Thèmes en Ré (Note Productions CD 437000-4) *1993: Play Bach 93 Volume 1 (Note Productions CD 437000-2) *1993: Play Bach 93 Volume 2 (Note Productions CD 437000-3) *1990: Lumières, Messe baroque du xxie siècle (Decca CD 425217-2) *1988: The Greatest Bach Partita No.1 in B Flat Major BWV 825 – Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor BWV 1067 (Limelight CD 844 059-2, Decca Record Company) *1988: Brandenburg Concertos (Limelight-Japan CD 844 058-2, Decca Record Company) *1987: Bach to Bach (Start CD Original Live in Japan SMCD 19) *1987: Jacques Loussier Live in Japan (King Records Japan CD original Live K32Y 6172) *1986: Lumières "Messe Baroque du xxie siècle" (Note Productions CD DECCA NL 425 217-2) *1986: Bach to the Future (Start CD SCD2) *1985: The Best of Play Bach (Start STL6) *1982: Pagan Moon (CBS CB271) *1979: Pulsion sous la mer (Decca 844 060-2) *1979: Pulsion (CBS 84078) *1974: Jacques Loussier et le Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Decca PFS 4176) *1974: The Jacques Loussier Trio In Concert at the Royal Festival Hall (Philips 6370 550 D) *1973: Jacques Loussier Trio "6 Master Pieces" (Philips 6321-100) *1972: Dark of the Sun (MGM SE-4544ST) *1965: Play Bach aux Champs-Élysées (coffret Decca, deux albums, SSL40.148) *1964: Play Bach No. 5 (Decca SSL 40.205 S) *1963: Play Bach No. 4 (Decca SSL 40.516) *1962: Jacques Loussier Joue Kurt Weill (RCA 430-071) *1961: Play Bach No. 3 (Decca SSL 40 507) *1960: Play Bach No. 2 (Decca SSL 40 502) *1959: Play Bach No. 1 (Decca SS 40 500)

References

External links

Jacques Loussier official website
1959 establishments in France 2019 disestablishments in France French jazz ensembles Musical groups established in 1959 Musical groups disestablished in 2019 French musical trios Piano trios {{France-band-stub