French jazz pianist Jacques Loussier says he doesn’t play Bach; he plays alongside Bach. That may be an apt description of the aural magic he weaves. Additionally, he plays alongside two extraordinary musicians, contrabassist Benoit Dunoyer de Segonzac and drummer Andre Arpino.
Known as the Jacques Loussier Trio, the Frenchmen played at Sherwood Auditorium Saturday, Oct. 7. Their only U.S. performance this season opened La Jolla Music Society’s 38th season and inaugurated president/artistic director Christopher Beach’s new jazz series.
With droll humor Loussier announced the musical numbers from the stage. Among the Bach works the trio inhabited were two Fifths, both in D Major, the Fugue and the Brandenburg. They stuck with the Baroque with their riff on the Spring movement from Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons,” and then, following an interval, they improvised on two French composers, Erik Satie’s “Gymnopédie” and Maurice Ravel’s “Bolero.”
During Segonzac’s initial, extended bass solo, one felt as if dead and gone to heaven; Arpino’s drum solo later in the program stretched from time immemorial to kingdom come, and all the while the listener prayed it would never end. His technique, his drum set, and his array of sticks are extraordinary. So is Loussier’s playing, whether he’s playing Bach straight, alongside or from the inside out. Little wonder these guys have sold millions of recordings.
As classical music enthusiasts know, “Bolero” is scored for an entire symphony orchestra, which starts at minus zero and proceeds to as many decibels as can be mustered, all the while keeping up that relentless, percussive motif. The performance of the work by this illustrious trio created the illusion of an entire orchestra.
As a huge bonus to listeners and LJMS, the audience was particularly diverse in age. Some were in their teens or early 20s. Older young adults brought their children. Apparently the presentation of such renowned breakthrough musicians is a great way to attract new audiences.
The Jazz series for people who love classical music continues with two programs at the Birch North Park Theatre (2928 University Ave.), Roby Lakatos Ensemble Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007, and Max Raabe and the Palast Orchester Saturday, March 17. Both programs begin at 8 p.m. with verbal “preludes” at 7 p.m.
Meanwhile, back at Sherwood (700 Prospect St., La Jolla), LJMS presents the ravishingly beautiful and acclaimed Claremont Trio, Emily and Julie Bruskin and Donna Kwong, at 8 p.m. Saturday Oct. 14. The women may be young and glamorous, but their pulchritude is mere bonus next to their accomplishments and their extraordinary playing.
To open this season’s Discovery series, cellist Clancy Newman plays Neurosciences Institute (10640 John Jay Hopkins Drive, La Jolla) recital with pianist Noreen Cassidy-Polera at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29. The program includes works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Bohuslav Martinu and Sergei Rachmaninoff and features the world premiere of the cellist’s “Variations on an Australian Theme.” His performance is preceded at 2:30 p.m. by a performance by 10-year-old pianist/cellist Sarina Zhang.
For information and tickets, visit www.lajollamusicsociety.org or call (858) 459-3728.