YOU may not recognise the name Jacques Loussier, but you'd certainly recognise his music.
It was Jacques who was responsible for the version of Air on a G String that was used for the famous Benson & Hedges advertisement in the 1960s.
Born in Angers in France in 1934, he began playing the piano at the age of 10 - quite late by the standards of some.
"I was attracted by the piano - a fantastic instrument - but I mainly started due to the fact that my older sister was playing it," he explains.
After entering the Conservatoire National de Musique in Paris at 16, he became one of its most successful pupils, heading their piano class of 500 before leaving to pursue a career travelling the world.
But, in 1959, he had his brainwave - to combine his love of JS Bach with his love of jazz.
"As soon as I was able to listen to music and appreciate it, there was the period when we had the opportunity to listen to a lot of jazz - it was coming over with the army - and the spirit was in the air," he said.
"Before that, there were so few possibilities to listen to jazz musicians because there were no organisations for it. Everything was so complicated but, as soon as I could, I took an opportunity to play."
When it comes to categorisation, Jacques Loussier is in a class of his own.
Many critics, unable to classify his brilliant improvisations of the works of such composers as Bach, Satie, Vivaldi, Ravel and Debussy, have labelled him a jazz musician.
Yet he remains unconcerned with such narrow pigeonholing.
His last five albums have all reached high positions in the classical charts and he shows no sign of slowing down, despite the fact that he'll be turning 70 this October.
The upcoming concert of Jacques and his trio will be, in part, a celebration of this event and the 40th anniversary of their formation.
"I don't listen to much of what I've done - I always want to do new things.
"But I still give 50 concerts a year. I like to play, it's a pleasure to play. I just have to be careful not to make it complicated.
"Music is marvellous and playing is marvellous, but travel is not."
The Jacques Loussier Trio (pictured) will be appearing at The Anvil this Friday, May 28, at 7.45pm.
Tickets, priced £16.50 and £18.50 (full-time students and under-16s get in for half price), are available from the box office on 01256 844 244 or the website www.theanvil.org.uk
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