The Play Bach Trio was a Third Stream

Third stream

Third Stream is a term coined in 1957 by composer Gunther Schuller, within a lecture at Brandeis University, to describe a musical genre which is a synthesis of classical music and jazz...

 jazz piano trio that became known for their Jazz

Jazz

Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...

 interpretations of European classical music.

The Play Bach Trio was formed in 1959 by pianist

Pianist

A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...

 Jacques Loussier

Jacques Loussier

Jacques Loussier is a French pianist and composer. He is well-known for his jazz interpretations in trio formation of many of Johann Sebastian Bach's works, such as the Goldberg Variations.-Early life and education :...

, bass player Pierre Michelot

Pierre Michelot

Pierre Michelot was a French bebop and hard bop double bass player.Born in Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, Paris, Michelot studied piano from 1936 until 1938, but switched to playing bass at the age of sixteen...

, and percussionist Christian Garros. They reworked mostly Baroque music

Baroque music

Baroque music describes a style of Western Classical music approximately extending from 1600 to 1760. This era follows the Renaissance and was followed in turn by the Classical era...

, in particular by Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...

, to fit their own style and instruments.

The group was commercially successful but less popular with critics and jazz purists.

In 1985, Jacques Loussier formed a new trio with percussionist André Arpino, and double-bassist Vincent Charbonnier.

Discography (selection)

• 1959: Play Bach no. 1
• 1960: Play Bach no. 2
• 1961: Play Bach no. 3
• 1963: Play Bach no. 4
• 1998: Satie: Gymnopédie - Gnossiennes
• 1999: Bach Goldberg Variations
• 1999: Ravel's Bolero
• 1999: The Bach Book - 40th Anniversary Album
• 1997: The Four Seasons (Vivaldi)
• 2000: Take Bach
• 2001: Baroque Favorites
• 2002: Handel: Water Music & Royal Fireworks
• 2003: Play Bach no. 5