Kermit Ruffins | |
|---|---|
 Ruffins at the 2007 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Kermit Ruffins (1964-12-19)December 19, 1964 (age 60) |
| Origin | New Orleans, Louisiana U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz Rhythm and blues |
| Occupation | Musician |
| Instrument(s) | Trumpet vocals |
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Labels | Basin Street,Putumayo, Justice |
Kermit Ruffins (born December 19, 1964) is an Americanjazz trumpeter, singer, and composer fromNew Orleans. He has been influenced byLouis Armstrong andLouis Jordan and says that the highest note he can hit on trumpet is a highC. He often accompanies his songs with his own vocals. Most of his bands perform New Orleans jazz standards though he also composes many of his own pieces.Jon Pareles ofThe New York Times wrote, "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."[1]
He started playing trumpet in 8th grade at Lawless Junior High School in theNinth Ward of New Orleans. He attendedJoseph S. Clark High School in the 6th Ward and St Peter Claver Church inTremé.[2] In high school, he played a little bit of classical music at the behest of a strict band teacher.[3]
He developed an appreciation for cooking from his grandmother, observing her movements in the kitchen.[4]
Ruffins co-founded theRebirth Brass Band in 1983 while attending Clark High School in theTremé neighborhood.[5] He made his first recordings with the Rebirth band in 1984. The group was inspired byThe Dirty Dozen Brass Band, a band of slightly older musicians credited with bringing influences of funk and contemporary bebop into New Orleans style brass bands. Before they achieved the popularity which allowed them to play regularly in local music venues, the Rebirth oftenbusked around theFrench Quarter fortips. They soon became a "house band" at the Glass House, previously the Dirty Dozen's home venue. Rebirth once had a gig in New York City atLone Star Cafe, but they were hassled by police for having no permit when they began marching outdoors as is common practice in New Orleans.[2]
Ruffins founded the Barbecue Swingers in 1992, atraditional jazzquintet. He is known for cooking on abarbecue at his shows. Every Thursday since the early 1990s, they played a show at Vaughan's Bar in theBywater neighborhood which was very popular with both locals and visitors. His 2007 Basin Street Records release,Live at Vaughan's was recorded during one of his performances there. They currently play a regular Thursday night gig at Bullet's Sports Bar on AP Tureaud Ave.[6]
He has also performed at hundreds of funerals during his career in the Crescent City.[3] In 2003 the band received a nomination at the Big Easy Entertainment Awards, which recognizes local talents.
Ruffins is interviewed on screen and appears in performance footage in the 2005 documentary filmMake It Funky!, which presents a history ofNew Orleans music and its influence onrhythm and blues,rock and roll,funk andjazz.[7] In the film, he performs "Skokiaan" as part of a trumpet challenge withIrvin Mayfield andTroy Andrews.[8]
He appeared as himself inHBO'sTreme as a recurring character.[9]
Ruffins also performed a rendition ofThe Bare Necessities forDisney's 2016 remake ofThe Jungle Book, alongside actorBill Murray.[10]
| Year | Album | Notes | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | World on a String | debut album | Justice |
| 1994 | The Big Butter and Egg Man | – | Justice |
| 1996 | Hold on Tight | – | Justice |
| 1998 | The Barbecue Swingers Live | – | Basin Street |
| 1999 | Swing This | – | Basin Street |
| 2001 | 1533 St. Philip Street | – | Basin Street |
| 2002 | Big Easy | – | Basin Street |
| 2005 | Throwback | – | Basin Street |
| 2007 | Live at Vaughan's | – | Basin Street |
| 2009 | Livin' a Treme Life | – | Basin Street |
| 2009 | Have a Crazy Cool Christmas | – | Basin Street |
| 2010 | Happy Talk | – | Basin Street |
| 2013 | We Partyin' Traditional Style | – | Basin Street |
| 2015 | #imsoneworleans | – | Basin Street |
| 2017 | A Beautiful World | – | Basin Street |
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