Jacques Loussier Trio :: Bach: The Brandenburgs [2006]

In bringing a sprightly jazz-trio sound to classical works, most notably by J.S. Bach, pianist Jacques Loussier has been dismissed as a lightweight popularizer by both hardcore jazz fans and serious classical enthusiasts. Yet he must be doing something right to be at it more than 45 years after founding his Play Bach Trio. Loussier's strategy in tackling all six of Bach's beloved Brandenburg Concertos, he said, involved "reducing his music to its essence" rather than elaborating on the musical texts as he once did. As ever, the notes are exceptionally clean and the rhythms neat, though bassist Benoit Dunoyer de Segonzac and drummer Andre Aprino give them a bit more oomph. Lo these decades after crossover ventures such as Dave Brubeck's "Blue Rondo a la Turk," and the Modern Jazz Quartet's superior Bachian delights, the jazz-meets-classical concept can be a bit dated. But Loussier's commitment to it can't be denied. --Lloyd Sachs

Tracklist:

Concerto No. 1 in F major: I. (Allegro)
Concerto No. 1 in F major: II. Adagio
Concerto No. 1 in F major: III. Allegro
Concerto No. 2 in F major: I. (Allegro)
Concerto No. 2 in F major: II. Andante
Concerto No. 2 in F major: III. Allegro assai
Concerto No. 3 in G major: I. (Allegro)
Concerto No. 3 in G major: II. Adagio
Concerto No. 3 in G major: III. Allegro
Concerto No. 4 in G major: I. Allegro
Concerto No. 4 in G major: II. Andante
Concerto No. 4 in G major: III. Presto
Concerto No. 5 in D major: I. Allegro
Concerto No. 5 in D major: II. Affettuoso
Concerto No. 5 in D major: III. Allegro
Concerto No. 6 in B-flat major: I. (Allegro)
Concerto No. 6 in B-flat major: II. Allegro
Concerto No. 6 in B-flat major: III. Adagio ma non tanto

Jacques Loussier Piano
Benoit Dunoyer de Segonzac Bass
André Arpino Drums

MP3 320k

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