Play Bach 2 (Jazz-Improvisationen über Johann Seb. Bach)

Released in 1963 on the Decca label, Play Bach 2 is the second installment in the influential series by the Jacques Loussier Trio. Following the surprise international success of the first volume, Loussier sought to further explore the compatibility of J.S. Bach’s rigid contrapuntal structures with the fluid, improvisational nature of jazz. The recording features Loussier on piano, Pierre Michelot on bass, and Christian Garros on drums, all classically trained musicians who aimed to perform Bach’s works with rhythmic vitality while maintaining the integrity of the original compositions.

The album arrived during a period of rising interest in the 'Third Stream' movement, which bridged the divide between classical music and jazz. Critics at the time were initially divided, with some purists viewing the improvisations as irreverent, while many listeners and fellow musicians praised the trio's technical precision and innovative approach to swing. The design and aesthetic of the Play Bach series helped define the jazz-classical fusion genre, securing Loussier’s reputation as a pioneer who could make complex Baroque harmonies accessible to a wider modern audience.