Play Bach Jazz - Volume 2 - Jacques Loussier

 

Allemdnde

Play Bach Jazz

Volume 2

The Jacques Loussier Trio

London Records PS 288

1962

From the back cover: Of all classical music, the works of Johann Sebastian Bach are, without doubt, the most adaptable to jazz. Long before the war, Django Rheinhart, the great gypsy jazz guitarist, attempted an experiment comparable to what Jacques Loussier presents here: A suite of improvisations and a jazz interpretation of the first movement of the Concerto In D Minor by Bach. Rheinhart's experiment was completely successful.

Once again the experiment has been tried and we hope that all jazz enthusiasts, as well as the devotees of Bach, cleary appreciate what Jacques Loussier, Christian Garros and Pierre Michelot have accomplished: a remarkable jazz LP that does not betray the spirit of the greatest musical genius of all time.

Jacques Loussier is a young musician who dreamed of becoming a classical pianist but the exigencies of modern life led him into a completely different path. Born October 26, 1943, at Anger, in one of the most beautiful provinces of France, Jacques Loussier pursued his musical studies at the Conservatoire Nationale de Paris under the direction of Mr. Yves Nat who encouraged him to become a virtuoso. But, for lack of money he was forced to abandon his studies prematurely and, at the age of 18, he joined the gypsy orchestra of the Cabaret Monseigneur and left for Cuba. Financially secure as a result of this first professional experience, Jacques Loussier returned to Paris where numerous ballets sought him as accompanist and this marked the beginning of a life of travel which was to take him as far as Palestine and Turkey. Soon his name became linked with the great French singing stars: Catherine Sauvage and George Brassens, as their accompanist. He returned to Cuba in 1956 with Jacqueline Francois. After that, as traveling accompanist to Suzy Delair, another singing star, he got to know such places as the Cameroons, Sweden and Denmark.

Following an eight month period of military service in Algeria, Loussier was assigned to the Algerian Radiodiffusion-Television as a civilian. There he made many appearances on radio, one in particular as the piano soloist for Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue with an orchestra under the directions of Richard Blareau. Here also, he was called upon to arrange many orchestrations. This experience inspired Loussier to create an original formula which was realized when he returned to Paris through the birth of Jacques Loussier Trio. Although very new, this combination was most promising because the two men that joined him: Pierre Michelot, one of the best jazz basemen in Paris and the incomparable drummer, Christian Garros.

After the success of his first record, Loussier decided to exploit this new jazz formula more fully. This and his many other creative ideas will undoubtedly be revealed through his future recordings.

Partita No. 1

   Allemande

   Courante

   Sarabande

   Menuet 1 - Menuet 2

   Gigue

Choral 

Prelude No. 6

Aria

Prelude No. 16

Fugue No. 16

Prelude No. 21