Peter Nissen’s New Orleans Jazz Band • Bon Voyage, Jacques: Jacques Gauthé in Retrospect

It’s not often a traditional jazz band of conventional size—six or seven pieces, usually—lacks a horn in its front line, but such is the case here. The three frontliners are all reeds, the trombone’s part being taken to some extent by the tenor sax, the trumpet’s or cornet’s by the soprano sax. The lead, as we might expect, is most often played by Gauthé on soprano (and the CD is a tribute to him), and he is clearly a disciple of Bechet, although with perhaps not quite as wide a vibrato. He does not, however, try to dominate the proceedings, as does Bechet so often. Gauthé’s approach to the instrument is demonstrated quite definitively on “Petite Fleur,” that well-known Bechet composition, where he is accompanied only by the rhythm section. His measured vibrato and precise volume, as well as the extended coda, are enough to communicate the passion he invests in his playing. It is clear again in his obbligatos, his counter melodies, and his splendid runs in “Just a Closer Walk with Thee.” Gauthé’s being content not to hog the spotlight is shown in the tracks where he is paired on soprano with Madsen on clarinet, such as “Doctor Jazz” or the “New Burgundy Street Blues.” The same can be said where there are two clarinets, such as in the “Ellington Jungle Band Medley” or “When You’re Smiling,” neither trying to upstage the other but display