The Play Bach Trio (also credited on releases as Jacques Loussier Trio), was a Third Stream jazz piano trio that became known for their Jazz interpretations of European classical music. The Play Bach Trio was formed in 1959 by pianist Jacques Loussier, bass player Pierre Michelot, and percussionist Christian Garros. They reworked mostly Baroque music, in particular by Johann Sebastian Bach, to fit their own style and instruments.
Saxophonist, composer, producer and educator Greg Osby has made an indelible mark on contemporary jazz as a leader of his own ensembles and as a guest artist with other acclaimed jazz groups of the past 20 years. Notable for his insightful and innovative approach to composition and performance of original jazz music, Osby is a shining beacon among the current generation of jazz musicians. He has earned numerous awards and critical acclaim for his recorded works and passionate live performances.
Noir is at least 11 different artists, amongst which: 1) Whether he is travelling the world DJing at some of the finest parties on the planet, or producing tracks that gain support from the cream of the world’s dj elite, Noir (a.k.a. René Kristensen) remains one of the industry’s most respected and hard working individuals.
With over 10 years experience under his belt, Noir gave up his daytime job at the end of 2003 to focus on his dj and production career and hasn’t looked back since.
Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis, Jr. (born May 27, 1935 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American jazz and pop pianist and keyboardist. He formed the Ramsey Lewis Trio in 1956 with Eldee Young and Isaac Holt. They started as primarily a jazz unit but after their hit, "The In Crowd", in 1965 (the single reached fifth place on the pop charts, and the album second place) the trio concentrated more and more on pop material.
The Black Sea was formed from the ashes of Frodus in 2002 when Frodus's Shelby Cinca and Jason Hamacher decided to continue playing together. At the time they recruited Fugazi bassist Joe Lally to play bass. At the time they weren't sure on if the musical endeavor would go beyond just playing music. In February 2002, Hamacher left for a 3 month excursion to Eastern Europe and Turkey after recording drum tracks for the pair.
Alexander von Schlippenbach (* 1938 in Berlin) is a German jazz pianist and composer.
Schlippenbach started to play piano from the age of 8 and went on to study composition at Cologne under Bernd Alois Zimmermann. While studying he started to play with Manfred Schoof. At the age of 28 he founded the Globe Unity Orchestra.
He produced various recordings and worked for German radio channels. He played with many essential players of the European free jazz community, most notably in the "Alexander von Schlippenbach Trio" with drummer Paul Lovens and saxophonist Evan Parker.
Andrew McCormack was born in Roehampton, United Kingdom in 1978. He began learning the piano at the age of thirteen and, at sixteen, commenced studies at Pimlico School, where he had jazz lessons with Andrea Vicari, in their specialist music department. In 1996 Andrew received a scholarship to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he had both classical piano lessons, with Andrew Ball and Paul Roberts, as well as studying jazz piano with Simon Purcell. He also began composition lessons with Matthew King whilst he was in his final year.
Born in Leipzig on March 15, 1944, Joachim Kühn gave his young-age debut as a concert pianist and studied classical piano and composition with Arthur Schmidt-Elsey. Influenced by his elder brother, clarinet-player Rolf Kühn, he simultaneously got interested in jazz and started leading traditional and mainstream combos very early. In 1961 he became a professional jazz musician. With a trio of his own, founded in 1964, he presented the first European-rooted free jazz in the GDR. In 1966 he did not return to his country from an international competition organized by Friedrich Gulda in Vienna.
Al Di Meola's highly celebrated career has spanned a wide range of emotions into a unique style embodying the artists world inspired influences. From the velocity and heat of his early solo efforts to the challenge and triumph of the "Di Meola / McLaughlin / De Lucia (Guitar Trio)", from the Brazilian explorations of "Cielo e Terra" and "Soaring Through A Dream" to the global romanticism and Tango inflection of Al's acoustic group "World Synfonia" (self titled debut) and the 2nd "World Sinfonia" recording Heart of the Immigrants.