Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Kermit Ruffins: Live at Vaughan's

349

Kermit Ruffins: Live at Vaughan's

By

Sign in to view read count
Kermit Ruffins: Live at Vaughan's
Trumpeter/vocalist Kermit Ruffins sure knows how to throw a party, and frankly, he should. As the founder of two great New Orleans jazz bands, the Rebirth Brass Band and the Barbeque Swingers, Ruffins has become somewhat of a New Orleans musical diplomat, embracing a vigorous touring schedule that has brought him further from home than many of the city's mainstays.

Live at Vaughan's is a different story though, as Ruffins brings his Barbeque Swingers back home for a Thursday night set. The full house is in all-out party mode, and Ruffins delivers with his brand of modern New Orleans jazz, complete with to-the-point soloing, heartfelt vocals, and endless musings. If Ruffins knows how to do anything, he knows how to put on a show.

After a brief introduction, things kick off with the infectious opener "Skokiaan." After his trumpet trilling over his rock-steady backing band, Ruffins enters vocally with an extended howl before voicing the rollicking lyrics. His voice, though far from exceptional, does have a certain energy and spirit to it.

Ruffins slows it down for the next number, Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler's classic "World on a String." His rendition is an honest one, and it only heats up when Richard Knox tickles the electric ivories in fine fashion. The night soon turns into a family affair, as Ruffins brings in his daughter Neshia to sing on "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?"

One of the great things about Ruffins, and something that really shines through on this disc in particular, is his broad range of influences. He brings the same care and passion to an old Arlen ballad as he does to Sly Stone's "If You Want Me to Stay," a masterpiece of over-the-deep-end funk. His covers never lose Ruffins' own touch, though, and he brings a completely different kind of energy to the song. The opening two-minute jam on the unmistakable bass line is pure fire, and it's clear the band has really hit their stride. Again, his voice doesn't come close to matching Stone's, but his energy is enough to carry it. He even mixes in a few lines from hip-hop staple the Roots's "You Got Me," for Ruffins is a man who embraces all forms of music. These small details are part of what makes Live at Vaughan's such a fun ride.

The album closer only certifies Ruffins' role as a musical unifier. The Five Stairsteps' ballad "O-o-h Child" is presented with a funky edge before Ruffins begins rapping over the song's chord changes. For Ruffins, it isn't about playing a style of music; it's about just playing so that people can enjoy themselves. When Ruffins asks the non-New Orleans residents in the audience to scream, he is met with a wall of noise. Looks like it's working.

Track Listing

Introduction; Skokiaan; World on a String; Drop Me Off In New Orleans; Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?; Palm Court Strut; Treme' Second Line; Can't Take My Baby Nowhere; Hide the Reefer; If You Want Me To Stay; Be Thankful For What You Got; Talking Loud and Saying Nothing; O-o-h Child.

Personnel

Kermit Ruffins: vocals, trumpet; Richard Knox: electric keyboards; Derrick Freeman: drums, vocals; Kevin Morris: electric bass; Neshia Ruffins: vocals; Roderick Paulin: saxophone; Corey Henry: trombone; Percy Williams: percussion; Dirty Rice: washboard; Bob French: introduction.

Album information

Title: Live at Vaughan's | Year Released: 2007 | Record Label: Basin Street Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.