Jacques Loussier

Born 1934 Pianist, conductor

With his outstanding classical technique and improvisatory skills, Jacques Loussier became known for his fusions of classical, rock and jazz. His trademark was Bach with a jazz twist, first heard in 1959 on his first album, Play Bach No. 1, with bassist Pierre Michelot and drummer Christian Garros. Loussier composed for French film and television in the 1970s and wrote suites, including Pulsions and Pagan Moon, for piano, synthesizer, percussion and bass. He later reformed his trio with André Arpino and Vincent Charbonnier and explored jazz adaptations of composers such as Ravel, Satie and Beethoven.