Bach to the Future: Classical Music Meets Modern Grooves

What happens when you put classical music through a blender with jazz rhythms and modern world music sounds? The result is a sound that has become equally popular in both the jazz and classical music worlds. Meet Bach to the Future, a St. Louis-based quartet that has developed a following of music lovers of all ages. Bach to the Future is, as the band members like to describe it, "the Bach that rocks."

My introduction to Bach to the Future came on March 20, 2007 when I went with my wife and stepson to watch them play at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey, Illinois. We were amazed at the arrangements, which maintain the structural elements of the classics while adding jazz-fusion, Latin, and Afro-Cuban sounds. I was suitably impressed with their talent and creativity. All three of us became Bach to the Future fans immediately.

Bach to the Future consists of four very talented musicians: Mike Silverman (keyboards), Rob Silverman (Zen drum), Matt Bollinger (fretless electric six-string bass) and Andy Driscoll (electric violin). Mike, Rob and Matt also play together as "The Downtown Trio," an electric jazz band. It was while arranging Bach's "Air on the G String" for The Downtown Trio's U City Blues CD that Mike Silverman first began to consider the idea of playing classical music through the filter of modern day sounds.

The band released a self-titled CD through its own label, Time Machine Records, in the fall of 2005. The disc features many of the band's arrangements based on the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Some outstanding tracks include "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," "Minuet/Little Fugue," plus "Air on the G String." There is also an excellent version of Carl Phillip Emmanuel Bach's "Solfeggietto," which gets a Latin jazz treatment heavily influenced by jazz piano Chick Corea. The CD has sold over 100,000 copies, which is quite impressive for an independent release.

Bach to the Future is currently playing as the house band on KPLR-TV CW-11's Sunday night sports program "The Fan Show," hosted by sportscaster Rich Gould. The band has been touring the United States with major jazz artists and on their own. They have written music for numerous television commercials as well as themes for movies and TV programs. The group has also posted many video clips of their live performances on You Tube in addition to releasing a number of instructional books and CD's for aspiring musicians.

If you're a classical music lover, a fan of jazz or world music, or just a lover of good music in general, I suggest you give Bach to the Future a listen. They are an excellent group, and I look forward to hearing more great music from them in the future.