The story began in the late 50s, one of the most experimental periods in the history of jazz. In the wake of the big-band era of World War II and the late 1940s, jazz combos on either side of the Atlantic scaled back in size and sought innovative ways to do more with less.
For Jacques Loussier, the results of these experimental forays ultimately played a prominent role in the evolution of jazz. In the 1950s, he was a young pianist trying to find ways to improvise on the compositions of J.S. Bach. When he took the occasional break from his classical training to entertain friends by mixing elements of Bach with jazz, the results were something fresh, innovative and widely popular in the Paris club scene – popular enough, in fact, to launch a career.

When Jacques Loussier presented his jazzy version of Bach with his PLAY BACH in 1959, not even his DECCA-producer expected that a million copies of 5 pieces would be sold by 1965. In Paris, London, Berlin, Tokyo, Sydney and New York, Jacques Loussier polarized as well as unified the classical and the jazz world. Called a pioneer even “the grandfather” of crossover, Glenn Gould acknowledged Loussier’s taste by saying : “Play Bach is a good way to play Bach”.

After the turbulent sixties and seventies, during which Loussier did over 2000 performances worldwide and also wrote compositions for
various Hollywood productions, the second formation of the Trio resumed its performances all over the world and concentrated on the perfection of the arrangements. The Goldberg- Variations, Satie’s Gymnopédie, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, and Ravel’s Bolero rank equally high in the acceptance of critics and audience.
The provoking energy of Loussier’s versions of Bach did not quiet down, but was transformed – and also the listening habits have changed considerably. Phrasing, drive and agogic of Loussier are legendary Jazz history and so it is less the jazz aspect that is noticeable but more the Bach aspect – a catching and legitimate way of a contemporary interpretation that pays tribute to Bach’s flexibility and universality.

For the anniversary in 2009, Telarc International – a division of Concord Music Group – celebrates this landmark anniversary with the release of  Jacques Loussier Plays Bach: The 50th Anniversary Recording.