Baroque Favorites: Jazz Improvisations

Jacques Loussier Trio (Artist), Marin Marais (Artist), Alessandro Marcello (Artist), Johann Pachelbel (Artist), Domenico Scarlatti (Artist), Tomaso Albinoni (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 23, 2001)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B00005Q5LU
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,906 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #46 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Improvisation
  • #80 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Reeds & Winds > Oboe

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Make It 4 1/2 Stars, August 23, 2002

By 

Oliver Towne (CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baroque Favorites: Jazz Improvisations (Audio CD)

Wally Shoup has pretty much nailed it in his review. I just want to add that it is remarkable how consistent Loussier has remained over a span of more than four decades.

Last night I played "Baroque Favorites" back-to-back with a reissue LP of his 1959 debut. I was struck by the similarity of sound and style between the two. I don't know if it's intentional, but with the latest bass player Loussier has nearly recreated the sound of the original trio. At the same time, the playing is more refined and subtle. "Play Bach" was very much a hit in 1959, but "Baroque Favorites" shows the concept is still fresh and that it is possible to grow without abandoning old ideas.

At first, like reviewer Dan Cohen, I thought that Loussier's treatment of other composers wasn't as strong as his Bach work. I've changed my mind, however. There's a smoother integration of Jazz and Baroque here than in "The Bach Book." The music has fewer non-Baroque parts grafted onto it, and the bass and drum solos are shorter and fit better. I also like the selection of pieces and their sequence, and I agree with Shoup about the Pachelbel Canon in D Major. I had hesitated to buy "Favorites" because of the inclusion of this Top 40 chestnut, but fortunately Loussier gives it a fresh spin.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not his best - but worthwhile, November 22, 2001

By 

Dan Cohen (Ramat-Gan Israel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baroque Favorites: Jazz Improvisations (Audio CD)

Loussier is at his best when he plays Bach. His rendition of Vivaldi's Four seasons is also excellent, and he is quite efficient in handling his Baroque favorites on this CD, but something is missing.
Loussier made his career on Bach because (and he said so himself) Bach makes the most Jazz-effective classical compositions. Perhaps these baroque compositions didn't go through Loussier's jazz-converter as well or as brilliantly as those others. Perhaps Loussier just coughed this CD without too much effort.
In any case - I bought it, and I am quite pleased I did (and this is the best bottom line possible...)

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great jazz--great music, May 28, 2002

By 

Luis GARCIA LAURENT - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baroque Favorites: Jazz Improvisations (Audio CD)

It had been a long time since I heard Jacques Loussier. Most of it devoted to the baroque music he so beautifully paraphrases in this album. Although his Bach is great, the disscovery of his Haendel is one of the great plusses of this opus. The French baroque musicians almost forgotten today, whose work I discovered recently, sound great when played as jazz.
A trully enjoyable musical experience to anyone who likes jazz and wants to hear more baroque music.