Whenever clarinetist Dr. Michael White and trumpeter Gregg Stafford pair up on the front line of a band, the result is traditional classic jazz with flair. The group—with banjoist Seva Venet and bassist Mark Brooks—kicks off Basin Street Records’ 20th anniversary party on May 5, 2017 at the now defunct Little Gem Saloon with an over 10-minute take on King Oliver’s “Canal Street Blues.” The length allows plenty of time for the two horn men to weave around each other and take off on extended solos with White going for those seemingly impossible high notes and Stafford adding humorous touches that are the essence of the New Orleans style. Meanwhile, Venet and Brooks lay down the rhythmic pulse for this drum-less quartet.

The next two cuts, the sentimentally light-hearted “I Love You too Much to Ever Leave You,” which includes Stafford’s signature vocals, and the wonderfully swaying “Caribbean Girl (A New Orleans Calypso)” come from White’s pen. Stylistically they represent White’s dedication to expanding on traditional jazz’s songbook and his interest in acknowledging New Orleans’ musical connections to our southern neighbors.

Drummer Jason Marsalis, another Basin Street artist, joins the ensemble on the oft-performed “Summertime” and really takes off on another White composition, “Give It Up (Gypsy Second Line).” It could be considered rather rare for a drummer and clarinetist duo to go at it minus other instrumentation, yet these two make it work. The rousing song captures the gypsy and second line feel while the rhythm also looks back to Africa’s influence.

Though the material on Michael White Live exists on other of the clarinetist’s releases, these versions offer the spirit of music played before a live enthusiastic audience.