Jacques Loussier

Jacques Loussier (born 26 October 1934 in Angers, northwestern France) is a noted pianist and composer. He is well known for his jazz interpretations of many of Johann Sebastian Bach's works, such as the "Goldberg variations". His most famous recording is Air on the G String that was used for the Hamlet cigar advertisements in the UK for over 35 years. Oddly enough, another jazz version of Air on the G String performed by The Swingle Singers along with the Modern Jazz Quartet was a hit as well. He also composed the theme tune for the popular 1960s French TV series "Thierry La Fronde".

Early life and education

His talent already manifested his gift at age ten, and he began composing music while studying at the Conservatoire National de Musique in Paris under Professor Yves Nat, from age sixteen.

After 6 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.

Trio

Loussier formed the Play Bach Trio in 1959, with himself as pianist, Pierre Michelot as bassist and Christian Garros as percussionist. The group performed interpretations of Bach's works, and had many live appearances, tours and concerts, as well as a number of recordings. In total, the trio sold over six million albums.

Break up

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 together with musicians like Pink Floyd, Elton John, Sting and Yes. Allegedly, parts of the Pink Floyd album "The Wall" were recorded at his studio.

Reformation

In 1985 — three hundred years after Bach's birth — he refounded the Play Bach Trio with two new partners, percussionist André Arpino and double-bassist Vincent Charbonnier.Recent recordings include interpretations of compositionsby Erik Satie, Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel,
Antonio Vivaldi and more. A recording, entitled "Take Bach", made by the trio along with the Pekinel sisters feature adaptations of Bach's concertos for two and three pianos.

Bassist Benoît Dunoyer De Segonzac has also performed in the trio, replacing Vincent Charbonnier on a number of albums and concerts, from at least as early as 1998 on the album "Satie: Gymnopédies Gnossiennes", up to as recent as May, 2008, when 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 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

*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 ELYSEES (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 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)
*1996 - LUMIERES "Messe Baroque du 21ième siècle" (Note productions CD 43707)
*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 - LUMIERES "Messe Baroque du 21ième 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 Record Japan CD original Live K32Y 6172)
*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 PHILARMONIC ORCHESTRA (DECCA PFS 4176)
*1974 - JACQUES LOUSSIER 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 ELYSEES (DECCA coffret 2 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 WEIL (RCA 430-071)
*1959 - PLAY BACH No 3 (DECCA SSL 40 507)
*1959 - PLAY BACH No 2 (DECCA SSL 40 502)
*1959 - PLAY BACH No 1 (DECCA SS 40 500)

External links

* [http://www.loussier.com/ Official website]