Kermit Ruffins - 2007 - Live at Vaughn's

Kermit Ruffins (born December 19, 1964) is a jazz trumpeter, singer and composer from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. He has been heavily influenced by Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan and Eddy Jefferson. Ruffins accompanies a large portion of his songs with his own vocals, and he says that the highest note he can hit on trumpet is a fortissimo C note. Most of his bands perform New Orleans jazz standards, though he also composes many of his own pieces. Jon Pareles of the New York Times wrote of Ruffins in a July 16, 2001 article, stating that "Mr. Ruffins is an unabashed entertainer who plays trumpet with a bright, silvery tone, sings with off-the-cuff charm and never gets too abstruse in his material".




2007 - Live at Vaughn's

Track Listing:

    1.    Introduction
    2.    Skokiaan
    3.    World on a String
    4.    Drop Me Off in New Orleans
    5.    Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans
    6.    Palm Court Strut
    7.    Treme' Second Line
    8.    Can't Take My Baby Nowhere
    9.    Hide the Reefer
    10.    If You Want Me to Stay
    11.    Be Thankful For What You Got
    12.    Talking Loud and Saying Nothing
    13.    O-O-H Child



Kermit Ruffins is the closest the 21st century is likely to get to a personification of the spirit of traditional New Orleans jazz. Possessed of a bright, shining trumpet tone and warm, relaxed vocal style, Ruffins recalls Louis Armstrong in personality and presentation, but moreover he represents the friendly good-times vibe of the Big Easy. Ruffins's live recordings are the best way to sample his downhome fare, and LIVE AT VAUGHAN'S, on which Ruffins treats standards ("World on a String"), his love of his hometown ("Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?"), and feel-good pastimes ("Hide the Reefer"), is a pleasure back to front.Down Beat (p.70) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Ruffins has reigned over Thursday nights at Vaughan's for more than 15 years, and this recording delivers the most honest experience of his show to date."
Global Rhythm (Publication) (p.57) - "Kermit is absolutely ebullient....This vibrant recording shows that the music is still kicking, and Kermit's having a good time doing his part."

If you like Jazz or just good time music in general, then you should definitely enjoy this. 


Hide the Reefer