Jacques Loussier Trio
Baroque Favorites

Review by Karl Lozier
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Vinyl Stock Number: Telarc CD-83516
www.telarc.com

  Loussier's original trio was the Play Bach Trio in the late 1950's. They sold over six million albums and later disbanded. Though this rather well known trio that Loussier formed in 1985 has at least eight other recordings available on the Telarc label, they are not personally familiar. As you might guess, Jacques Loussier is the pianist and titular head of the group. Andre Apino handles the drums and occasional cymbals and Benoit Dunoyer de Segonzac plays the double bass. As is so often true with piano trios, the piano is the star of the program. Fortunately, here the other two players do get a fair amount of time to shine on their own, even though most of these works were originally scored for strings.

What is the music like you may ask? Well, classical chamber music lovers will recognize most if not all the very well known selections. The question arises if they will like or appreciate the trio doing themes and variations (that can describe jazz) on familiar tunes and melodies. The first movement of "Marcello's Concerto" winds up having a bossa nova beat for example. Hopefully, my prediction is that, they will appreciate and approve of the new found fun. The structure of the Pachelbel Canon, for example, allows Loussier and his bass player to trade melody and bass lines for an interesting interplay of sounds.

So called light or cocktail jazz lovers will certainly enjoy the excellent playing and probably not even realize they're hearing true older, baroque period classical music. In the selection by Marin Marais jazz lovers may be aware of some simulation of Dave Brubeck's famous Take 5. Here they're hearing it beautifully in clean and natural sound quality with no obvious spotlighting. Interest is as mentioned above. Personally its place for me is mainly for light or relaxed listening times. Couldn't do much better for that and so this album earns a top recommendation in at least that and sound quality niches.