Jacques Loussier Trio


The Jacques Loussier Trio was a French Third Stream jazz piano trio, led by pianist Jacques Loussier, that became known for its jazz interpretations of European classical music. They were colloquially 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 and percussionist Christian Garros. They reworked mostly Baroque music, in particular that by Johann Sebastian Bach but also by Vivaldi 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.
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
  • 2006: Bach: The Brandenburgs
  • 2005: Mozart Piano Concertos 20/23
  • 2004: Impressions of Chopin's Nocturnes
  • 2003: Beethoven: Allegretto from Symphony No. 7: Theme and Variations
  • 2002: Handel: Water Music & Royal Fireworks
  • 2001: Baroque Favorites. Jazz Improvisations: Works by Handel, Marais, Scarlatti, Marcello, Albinoni
  • 2000: Play Bach No. 5
  • 2000: Play Bach aux Champs Élysées
  • 2000: Play Bach No. 4
  • 2000: Play Bach No. 3
  • 2000: Play Bach No. 2
  • 2000: Play Bach No. 1
  • 2000: Plays Debussy
  • 2000: Bach's Goldberg Variations
  • 2000: Bach Book 40th Anniversary, compilation Play Bach 93
  • 1999: Ravel's Bolero
  • 1998: Satie
  • 1997: Jacques Loussier Plays Vivaldi
  • 1995: Jacques Loussier Plays Bach, compilation Play Bach 93 et Les Thèmes en Ré
  • 1994: Play Bach Aujourd'hui Les Thèmes en Ré
  • 1993: Play Bach 93 Volume 1
  • 1993: Play Bach 93 Volume 2
  • 1990: Lumières, Messe baroque du xxie siècle
  • 1988: The Greatest Bach Partita No.1 in B Flat Major BWV 825 – Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor BWV 1067
  • 1988: Brandenburg Concertos
  • 1987: Bach to Bach
  • 1987: Jacques Loussier Live in Japan
  • 1986: Lumières "Messe Baroque du xxie siècle"
  • 1986: Bach to the Future
  • 1985: The Best of Play Bach
  • 1982: Pagan Moon
  • 1979: Pulsion sous la mer
  • 1979: Pulsion
  • 1974: Jacques Loussier et le Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
  • 1974: The Jacques Loussier Trio In Concert at the Royal Festival Hall
  • 1973: Jacques Loussier Trio "6 Master Pieces"
  • 1972: Dark of the Sun
  • 1965: Play Bach aux Champs-Élysées
  • 1964: Play Bach No. 5
  • 1963: Play Bach No. 4
  • 1962: Jacques Loussier Joue Kurt Weill
  • 1961: Play Bach No. 3
  • 1960: Play Bach No. 2
  • 1959: Play Bach No. 1