John Law Trio

Virtuoso pianist takes on Bach, with video art.

J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations is one of the most famous works in musical literature and an endless source of inspiration for pianists around the world. The music simply transcends genres, and Bach's ability to develop and sculpt variations on a theme remains unsurpassed.

It is no coincidence that the legendary saxophonist Coleman Hawkins, himself a master in the art of thematic variation, deeply admired Bach.

In the notes for his interpretation of the Variations, British pianist John Law explains the structure of the work and sees a resemblance to jazz: "They fall somewhere between a chaconne (variations on a repeating chord sequence - rather as in jazz) and a passacaglia (different harmonisations over a continuously repeating bass theme)."

In a bold move Law has bookended a traditional reading with two of his own electronic, ambient compositions based on the harmony and bass line used in Bach's work. The result is a fascinating portal into Bach's music that sets the mood for a total experience.

Tonight's total experience will be enhanced by videos operated by Patrick Dunn and featuring animations by David Daniels (Led Zeppelin, Bryan Adams).