Those readers who saw a BBC2 programme late last year will perhaps recall a bearded, slightly sombre-faced young man who performed prodigious exercises at the piano, mostly related to the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. That was Jacques Loussier in person, the pianist who can play Bach but prefers to update the great composer’s works to a twentieth century version of controversial nature. Ever since jazz began to be recognised as a musical entity in its own rights, the critics have spared no pains to damn the practice of “jazzing the classics”. They were mainly right in principle, if only on the grounds that most of the performers involved in these attempts had insufficient knowledge, technique, or experience to achieve more than a blatant plagiarism of the original theme. Where Loussier scores handsomely over his predecessors is in his obvious and detailed understanding of the intricacies of Bach’s scores.
Few people would deny that there is a close affinity between Bach and jazz, revealed some years ago by John Lewis and the MJQ, extended less imaginatively by Brubeck, and subsequently given varying degrees of treatment by various exponents of jazz. Jacques Loussier plays the whole thing almost as written, deviating only to accentuate some particularly rhythmic passage, and to allow bassist Pierre Michelot to contribute his well-conceived solos in similar vein. The whole is a remarkable achievement, certainly one which will not cause Bach to turn in his grave, yet enabling the pianist to exploit to the full the splendid opportunities for improvisation afforded by these masterly compositions. Whilst obviously not falling into the scope of everyone’s taste, they provide yet another strong link between the two music forms, and as such the album deserves serious attention.
Discography
Prelude No. 1; Concerto Italien (18 min) – Partita en si bemol (20 min)
Invention No. 5; Prelude No. 2; Choral No. 1 (Reveillez-vous, la voix des veilleurs vous appelle) (17¾ min) – Prelude No. 12; Concerto en re mineur (20¼ min)
Jacques Loussier (p): Pierre Michelot (bs); Christian Garros (d).
(London Globe SLB 1035/6 Two LPs 32s. 2d. each)
