Muzicieni de jazz interpretind clasici: Jacques Loussier

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Jacques Loussier

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jacques Loussier in 2007.

Jacques Loussier (born 26 October 1934, Angers, France) is a noted pianist and composer. He is well-known for his jazz interpretations in trio formation of many of Johann Sebastian Bach's works, such as the Goldberg Variations.

 Early life and education

Loussier's gift manifested itself at an early age. He began composing music while studying at the Conservatoire National de Musique in Paris under Professor Yves Nat from the age of sixteen.

After six years' study, he left to travel the world, where he experienced sounds of the Middle East, Latin America, and Cuba, where he spent one year.

 Play Bach Trio

In 1959 he formed the Play Bach Trio with bass player Pierre Michelot and percussionist Christian Garros. They used Bach's compositions as a base for jazz improvisation and had many live appearances, tours, and concerts, as well as a number of recordings. The group sold over six million albums in 15 years.^[1] Their most famous recording is "Air on the G String," which was used for the Hamlet cigar advertisements in the UK for over 35 years. Loussier also composed the theme tune for the popular 1960s French TV series Thierry La Fronde and the score for the motion picture Dark of the Sun.

 Breakup

In 1978, the trio broke up, and Loussier set up his own recording studio in Provence, where he worked on compositions for acoustic and electric instruments. He also worked with musicians like Pink Floyd, Elton John, Sting, and Yes. Allegedly, parts of Pink Floyd's album The Wall were recorded at his studio.

 Reformation

In 1985 (300 years after Bach's birth), he re-formed the Play Bach Trio with two new partners, percussionist André Arpino and double bassist Vincent Charbonnier. Recent recordings include interpretations of compositions by Erik Satie, Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, Antonio Vivaldi, and more. A recording entitled Take Bach, made by the Trio along with the Pekinel sisters, features adaptations of Bach's concertos for two and three pianos.

Bassist Benoît Dunoyer de Segonzac has also performed in the trio, replacing Charbonnier, on a number of albums and concerts from at least as early as 1998 (on the album "Satie: Gymnopédies Gnossiennes").

In 2004 a concert with music by Bach, Ravel, Debussy and Erik Satie was recorded live at St. Thomas Church, Leipzig.^[2]

In May 2008 the trio performed at the Bury Festival in Bury St Edmunds, UK.

 Lawsuit

In April 2002, Loussier filed a $10-million lawsuit against rap superstar Eminem and The Marshall Mathers LP executive producer Dr. Dre, claiming that the beat for "Kill You" was stolen from his composition "Pulsion." He demanded that all sales of the album be halted and any remaining copies destroyed. A trial date was set to begin in June 2004.

 Loussier Trio recordings

• 1959 – Play Bach No. 1 (Decca SS 40 500)
• 1959 – Play Bach No. 2 (Decca SSL 40 502)
• 1959 – Play Bach No. 3 (Decca SSL 40 507)
• 1962 – Jacques Loussier Joue Kurt Weill (RCA 430-071)
• 1963 – Play Bach No. 4 (Decca SSL 40.516)
• 1964 – Play Bach No. 5 (Decca SSL 40.205 S)
• 1965 – Play Bach aux Champs Élysées (Decca Coffret, two albums, SSL40.148)
• 1972 – Dark of the Sun (MGM SE-4544ST)
• 1973 – Jacques Loussier Trio "6 Master Pieces" (Philips 6321-100)
• 1974 – Jacques Loussier at the Royal Festival Hall (Philips 6370 550 D)
• 1974 – Jacques Loussier et le Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Decca PFS 4176)
• 1979 – Pulsion (CBS 84078)
• 1979 – Pulsion sous la mer (Decca 844 060-2)
• 1982 – Pagan Moon (CBS CB271)
• 1985 – The Best of Play Bach (Start STL6)
• 1986 – Bach to the Future (Start CD SCD2)
• 1987 – Jacques Loussier Live in Japan (King Records Japan CD original Live K32Y 6172)
• 1987 – Bach to Bach (Start CD Original Live in Japan SMCD 19)
• 1988 – Brandenburg Concertos (Limelight-Japan CD 844 058-2, Decca Record Company)
• 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)
• 1990 – Lumières "Messe Baroque du 21ième siècle" (Decca CD 425217-2)
• 1993 – Play Bach 93 Volume 2 (Note Productions CD 437000-3)
• 1993 – Play Bach 93 Volume 1 (Note Productions CD 437000-2)
• 1994 – Play Bach Aujourd'hui Les Thèmes en Ré (Note Productions CD 437000-4)
• 1995 – Jacques Loussier Plays Bach (Telarc), Compilation "Play Bach 93" et "Les Thèmes en Ré" (Note Productions)
• 1996 – Lumières "Messe Baroque du 21ième siècle" (Note Productions CD 43707)
• 1997 – Jacques Loussier Plays Vivaldi (Telarc CD 83417)
• 1998 – Satie (Telarc CD 83431)
• 1999 – Ravel's Bolero (Telarc CD 83466)
• 2000 – Bach Book 40th Anniversary (Telarc CD 83474), Compilation "Play Bach 93"
• 2000 – Bach's Goldberg Variations (Telarc CD 83479)
• 2000 – Plays Debussy (Telarc CD 83511)
• 2000 – Play Bach No. 1 (Decca 157 561-2)
• 2000 – Play Bach No. 2 (Decca 157 562-2)
• 2000 – Play Bach No. 3 (Decca 157 892-2)
• 2000 – Play Bach No. 4 (Decca 157 893-2)
• 2000 – Play Bach aux Champs Élysées (Decca)
• 2000 – Play Bach No. 5 (Decca 159 194-2)
• 2001 – Baroque Favorites. Jazz Improvisations: Works by Handel, Marais, Scarlatti, Marcello, Albinoni (Telarc CD 83516)
• 2002 – Handel: Water Music & Royal Fireworks (Telarc CD 83544)
• 2003 – Beethoven: Allegretto from Symphony No. 7: Theme and Variations (Telarc CD-83580)
• 2004 – Impressions of Chopin's Nocturnes (Telarc CD-83602)
• 2005 – Mozart Piano Concertos 20/23 (Telarc CD-83628)
• 2006 – Bach: The Brandenburgs (Telarc CD-83644)

[Nicoleta Cimpoae]

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