Kermit Ruffins: 1533 St. Philip Street (2001)

Mike Perciaccante

CD/DVD Reviewer since 2002

Mike Perciaccante has been contributing to All About Jazz since 2002. He also contributes to many other magazines across the country.

Recent articles (116 total)

Published: June 7, 2002

The title of this wonderful CD is the address of Kermit's new club in the Tremé section of New Orleans, not his home address. For those heading for New Orleans, Ruffins' club is a don't miss—especially if he is on the bill. 1533 St. Phillip Street is also an outstanding CD; it may well even be Kermit's career defining recording. It's definitely the best album he has released to date.

Produced by Tracey Freeman (of Harry Connick, Jr. fame), hopefully it will succeed in bringing the talent that Kermit has to the forefront of the jazz world. For those in-the-know, Ruffins has been there for almost ten years. Unfortunately most of those in-the-know reside in the Big Easy and the areas surrounding New Orleans or Louisiana.

The disc features many stellar musicians, including clarinetist Dr. Michael White, banjoist Detroit Brooks, saxophonist Eric Traub, bassist Neal Caine, drummer Arthur Latin, Kermit's long-time trombonist Corey Henry and pianist David Torkanowsky. These guys blend together perfectly to produce a fluency that has never before been heard on a Kermit Ruffins recording.

Ruffins is at his most exuberant and boisterous best singing and playing with Louie Armstrong-like cadence and style. The album contains some wonderful gems like "l Keep Walkin,'" "Ole Miss Blues" and the original "Drop Me Off in New Orleans." The album also contains the usual cadre of "pot" songs: "If You're A Viper" and "Hide The Reefer."

For fans of New Orleans jazz/funk with a little bit of second-line, as well as a touch of bluesy feeling, 1533 St. Philip Street is highly recommended; hopefully Ruffins will at last earn the respect he deserves...and finally catch on with the rest of the world.

Track Listing: Ole Miss Blues; Drop Me off in New Orleans; Tillie; Bye and Bye; Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams (And Dream...); Black and Blue; I Still Get Jealous; Jack, I'm Mellow ; Meet Me at the Second Line; Keep Walkin'; In the Bag; Some of These Days.

Personnel: David Torkanowsky: piano; Kermit Ruffins: trumpet, vocals; Corey Henry: trombone Eric Traub: saxophone; Neal Caine: double-bass; Michael White: clarinet.

Record Label: Basin Street Records
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream

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Date	Venue	Tickets
Jun20	Vaughan's Lounge New Orleans, LA
Jun21	The Blue Nile (balcony Room) New Orleans, LA
Jun22	Little Gem Saloon New Orleans, LA
Jun23	Kermit's Treme Speakeasy New Orleans, LA
Jun24	Kermit's Treme Speakeasy New Orleans, LA
Jun25	Bullet's Sports Bar New Orleans, LA
Jun27	Vaughan's Lounge New Orleans, LA
Jun28	The Blue Nile (balcony Room) New Orleans, LA
Jun29	Little Gem Saloon New Orleans, LA
Jun30	Kermit's Treme Speakeasy New Orleans, LA
Jul01	Kermit's Treme Speakeasy New Orleans, LA
Jul02	Bullet's Sports Bar New Orleans, LA
Jul16	Bullet's Sports Bar New Orleans, LA
Jul18	Vaughan's Lounge New Orleans, LA
Jul19	The Blue Nile (balcony Room) New Orleans, LA
Jul21	Kermit's Treme Speakeasy New Orleans, LA
Jul22	Kermit's Treme Speakeasy New Orleans, LA
Jul23	Bullet's Sports Bar New Orleans, LA
Jul24	The Gramophone St. Louis, MO
Jul25	The Gramophone St. Louis, MO
Jul26	Space Evanston, IL
Jul27	FitzGerald's Night Club Berwyn, IL
Jul28	Kermit's Treme Speakeasy New Orleans, LA
Jul29	Kermit's Treme Speakeasy New Orleans, LA
Jul30	Bullet's Sports Bar New Orleans, LA
Aug01	Vaughan's Lounge New Orleans, LA
Aug02	The Blue Nile (balcony Room) New Orleans, LA
Aug03	Island View Casino Gulfport, MS
Aug04	Satchmo Summerfest New Orleans, LA
Aug05	Kermit's Treme Speakeasy New Orleans, LA
Aug06	Bullet's Sports Bar New Orleans, LA
Aug08	Highline Ballroom New York, NY	buy
Aug11	Kermit's Treme Speakeasy New Orleans, LA
Aug12	Kermit's Treme Speakeasy New Orleans, LA
Aug13	Bullet's Sports Bar New Orleans, LA
Aug15	Vaughan's Lounge New Orleans, LA
Aug16	The Blue Nile (balcony Room) New Orleans, LA
Aug18	Kermit's Treme Speakeasy New Orleans, LA
Aug19	Kermit's Treme Speakeasy New Orleans, LA
Aug21	Sweetwater Music Hall Mill Valley, CA
Aug22	Brick and Mortor San Francisco, CA
Aug23	Brick and Mortor San Francisco, CA
Aug25	The New Parish Oakland, CA
Aug26	Kermit's Treme Speakeasy New Orleans, LA
Aug27	Bullet's Sports Bar New Orleans, LA
Aug29	Vaughan's Lounge New Orleans, LA
Aug30	The Blue Nile (balcony Room) New Orleans, LA