Thomas Gaucher : Rusty Ladder

Here is the debut album from a young, thoroughly captivating guitarist who is sure to find an audience even beyond the circle of six-string enthusiasts. Whether performing as a trio or a quartet, with the help of a young veteran of jazz piano, the guitarist and bandleader—backed by a rhythm section of his own generation—presents nine original compositions that hold their own perfectly and demonstrate a beautiful maturity and remarkable diversity of inspiration. At this level, one senses that Thomas Gaucher has listened to pop/folk singers such as Joni Mitchell and has, moreover, managed not to pay too much homage to the dominant triad on his instrument—Pat Metheny/John Scofield/Bill Frisell—which is more or less a feat for a young guitarist.

No, Thomas Gaucher possesses his own aesthetic, and the fact that he wanted to invite an elder musician on piano for a few tracks reveals both his grounding in a recent tradition and a desire not to limit himself to trio playing, which can sometimes lead to the display of “digital dexterity”—a pet peeve of many guitarists. With a magnificent, clear, and warm tone — that makes very little use of the multiple pedals often favored by his peers — and a perfectly fluid phrasing, the guitarist displays highly convincing improvisational skills and takes us on a journey through varied soundscapes that his two companions help him paint with undeniable mastery. As for Pierre de Bethmann—who has seen and heard it all—he clearly takes great pleasure in playing off a young talent who certainly didn’t call on him by chance. Their chemistry is evident and produces some truly beautiful soaring moments, wrapped in a band sound that is both dense and airy, settling deep in your ears and delighting them throughout the roughly 49 minutes of this magnificent debut album. And after the first listen, you can’t wait to put the record back on. Thomas Gaucher is clearly a musician whose future career we’ll be following closely, and we’re already certain we can expect the best from him.

Thierry Quénum

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