Kermit Ruffins

The accepted wisdom is that jazz was born in New Orleans. Maybe it isn’t quite that simple but I’m not going to argue. With the incredible diversity of styles that have ensued since WW11 from traditional to the most avant-garde that have greedily gobbled up every Western musical convention, one could be forgiven for thinking that the tire has been worn bare as far as traditional jazz is concerned. Until Kermit Ruffins puts the trumpet to his lips or sings one of the time-tested N.O. anthems, that is. Kermit spurred another revival in the 1980’s when he co-founded the Rebirth Brass Band, reviving the polyphonic tradition of the street brass band tradition but adding a nice hard edge to it.

This CD presents Mr Ruffins in fine fettle with a series of N. O. classics such as Ain’t Misbehavin’, On The Sunny Side Of The Street or After You’ve Gone, among others as well as four Kermit originals. As with all music of the diaspora you know that this could have come from nowhere else but the crescent city, such is the natural, soulful swing. Although there is no disrespectful messing with the tradition creative twists and turns abound. Kermit creates personal commentary with blistering yet totally relaxed trumpet solos, swinging polyphonic interplay with the band or wry vocals on songs that range from street march rhythms, blues, folk, jazz and slightly more modern swing touches. I love the recasting of the classic Bye and Bye with a joyful choir preceding the closer, a live version of Do The Fat Tuesday which demonstrates the funky timelessness of rolling N.O. rhythms.