Alive or dead?

Perhaps you heard something of Jacques Loussier’s death earlier in the week. Loussier’s demise was being lamented all across the internet, and obituaries began to sprout up from major media outlets. But is Loussier really dead?

Even as the wildfire of mourning continued to blaze across Facebook, conflicting reports began to circulate that Loussier’s “death” was in fact a hoax, and that the famed jazz pianist is, if not exactly kicking it, still drawing breath at the age of 84.

Loussier, who is widely celebrated for his jazz improvisations on music of Johann Sebastian Bach, suffered a stroke, which led to his retirement from performance in 2011.

His Wikipedia entry now sports a death date. His Facebook page has been frustratingly mum.

Forget Jacques Brel. Is Jacques Loussier indeed alive and well and living in Lyon?

Loussier performs Bach in Bach’s own church, the Thomaskirche Leipzig, for his 70th birthday: