Air on the G string
Well, you’ll either love this or hate it. If you’re of a certain age like me you might also remember that happiness is a cigar called Hamlet but not remember who played the tune. This is, fact, Jacques Loussier and his trio doing their take on Johann Sebastian Bach. And before you get too sanctimonious and music-hysterical about this version, I’ll just add that it is well known that Bach enormously enjoyed improvisation. I have a sneaking feeling he would actually have quite liked this…
In the Dark 
November 28, 2009 at 11:44 pm
You had me prepared for something horrific, but this was actually fantastic, in a Libarace-ish sorta way. It had all the lines and themes… He mentioned doing the Italian Concerto – I would have LOVED to hear what he did with that; it’s far more involved. Oh, you spelled Bach, Back, btw.
I’ve always thought Bach fit so well with math-y stuff.
November 29, 2009 at 12:09 am
I’m not sure Jacques Loussier would thank you for comparing him with Liberace, but I remember seeing him at a concert around about 1980 and he was great, although there wasn’t any Bach involved.
Lots of jazz musicians have done Bach in various forms. Try Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt (with the aid of Eddie South) doing their version of the first movement from Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins.
I know a lot of people who can’t stand it, but as far as I’m concerned it was, is, and forever will be a blast.
P.S. You can get Loussier’s version of the Italian Concerto on Youtube, starting with
I really like the last movement (marked “Presto”)
Eat your heart out, Angela Hewitt!
November 29, 2009 at 12:20 am
I have NEVER heard such a thing as that Django Reinhard interpretation! At first, it felt very wrong in a delicious sort of way, and then I found myself happily laughing. There is no lack of skill in what they’ve done, and they held to the intent of the piece much truer than Jacques. That was a joy! Part of me wants to say that what they’ve done is pure madness, but it’s not. It’s like a happily distorted image thorough a lens, with none of the fundamental beauty of the piece missing.
I’ll search for some Grappelli…
November 29, 2009 at 12:27 am
Oh, and I don’t care if Jacques thanks me or not for comparing him to Liberace with the Air. He was certainly far more camp with his interpretation than he needed to be, and did that eyeballing/playing to the camera as well.
I wonder why Jazz musicians choose Bach? Wringing out the structure into the more loosely emotional? He certainly has clearly defined lines and repetitious themes that are easy to separate out.
November 29, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Mark,
As to your question about why Jazz musicians like doing Bach, I think it’s because improvisers look for sound but interesting harmonic structures to provide the foundation. Bach’s music is so beautifully constructed that it can sustain all kinds of explorations and embellishments without sounding silly.
Another thing that has often struck me listening to Bach’s keyboard works is how often he uses a walking bass line for the left hand which is very like the type of accompaniment you get in Jazz.
Peter
December 2, 2009 at 3:19 pm
For some Bach with a REAL difference, try this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XORkC5fAJ5I