Jacques Loussier Trio - Play Bach... And More - DVD-Audio (2004)

Rec. live at St Thomas's Church, Leipzig, July 2004.

Jacques Loussier, piano
Benoît Dunoyer de Segonzac, bass
André Arpino, drums
Arrangements by Jacques Loussier



Live from St Thomas’s Church – the church for which Bach conceived most of his works – comes a concert performed by the man who introduced Bach to the world of Jazz and vice versa. In 1959, Jacques Loussier hit upon the idea that was to make his international reputation, by combining his interest in jazz with his love of J.S. Bach. He created his very own view of Bach, blending the most beautiful tunes of the Baroque master with an irresistibly swinging sound. Loussier’s trio achieved the breakthrough to popular commercial success enjoyed by only a select few jazz musicians. In fifteen years, the group sold over six million albums On the occasion of Loussier’s 70th birthday, the ensemble performed its greatest hits – jazz arrangements of Bach, Debussy, Satie and Ravel –in Bach’s “own” church in Leipzig for the first time.

Each member of the trio led by Jacques Loussier is so talented and did a great concert with such famous Bach's works as Fugue No. 5, Gavotte, Pastoral, Air on a G string, Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, and Harpsichord Concerto. They also played Debussy's Arabesque and L'lsle joyeuse, Satie's Gymnopedie No. 1, and Ravel's Bolero. With piano, bass, and drums, they play the classical works in their own jazz style in such a unique and creative way. Their Bach's are excellent. I really liked their Air on G and Harpsichord Concerto in particular. It was also very enjoyable to watch them play the impressionists' pieces. They played them very peacefully and beautifully.
The sound is very clear and rich featuring DTS/DD 5.1 & PCM. Vision is also great with 16x9 enhanced widescreen. If you are familiar with the classical works, you will like this dvd a lot. If you aren't but you like jazz and/or cross-over, you will probably like it still. Highly recommended (Amazon review).

Tracklist:

1. Opening

J.S. Bach:
2. Fugue No. 5 in D major
3. Gavotte in D major
4. Pastorale in C minor
5. Air on a G String
Brandenburg Concerto No.5 in D major,
6. I. Allegro
7. II. Affettuoso
8. III. Allegro

Debussy:
9. Arabesque
10. L´Isle joyeuse

Satie:
11. Gymnopédie No.1

Ravel:
12. Bolero

J.S. Bach:
Harpsichord Concerto No. 3 in D major
13. III. Allegro
14. Credits - Abspann - Générique fin