Customer Reviews

Live at Vaughans

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Here's a CD to get for your next party, particularly if your guests are unfamiliar with Kermit Ruffins. My introduction to his music came through a college buddy who has family in New Orleans and visits the city frequently, taking in its still vibrant music scene.
Well, since I like the trumpet-oriented jazz of Freddie Hubbard and Herb Alpert, I thought that perhaps I would enjoy Ruffins based on my friend's recommendation. And I do.
Live at Vaughan's is packed with high energy party jazz and although its a little jivey and parochial in places, its a CD that's easy to enjoy. My favorites are World On A String, Hide the Reefer, If You Want Me To Stay, the gorgeous instrumental Be Thankful For What You've Got. Those last two in particular show what Ruffins is capable of when he gets serious with his trumpet. Only the unnecessary introduction and the exceedingly lame O-O-H Child detract from making Live at Vaughan's a five-star effort. That last song is so jejune that no matter how valiantly Ruffins or anyone else tries to improve it, they are destined to fail.
I have always enjoyed New Orleans music as suited to certain times and places, but have never actually bought any until now. Kermit Ruffins shows ample talent here and I will certainly explore his music further. You don't necessarily have to be into New Orleans music or jazz in general to like this, you just have to like music in general. Check this CD out, you'll be glad you did.

From the days when he was probably the most visible member of Rebirth Brass Band, Kermit Ruffins has been playing his trumpet and singing with the idea that jazz can entertain as well as be art. Having reestablished, after Katrina, his long-standing gig at Vaughan's in New Orleans, his newest recording was recorded in performance there, Live at Vaughan's (Basin Street). What can one say except this an exuberant collection of performances that should bring a smile to most as he and his quartet handle standards like World on a String and Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?, along with second line gems like Palm Court Strut and Kermit's Tremé Second Line, and his jazzifying R&B classics like Sly Stone's If You Want Me to Stay. Ruffins' band of Richard Knox on keyboards (he has an excellent organ solo on World on a String); Derrick Freeman on drums and vocals and Kevin Morris on electric bass is augmented on several tracks by Roderick Paulin on saxophone and Corey Henry on trombone (both heard on Kermit's Drop Me Off in New Orleans), Neshia Ruffins (Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans), and others. The most obvious influence on Ruffins is Louis Armstrong which is reflected throughout his playing and vocals. While there is a traditional jazz base to the performances, they are enlivened by a dose of second-line R&B flavoring making for lively, swinging and danceable performances like the Palm Court Strut or Ruffins' Hide the Reefer (`because he comes the creeper'), that frankly will bring a smile to the listener, but after listening it will hit you that Kermit Ruffins can really play, like his very fiery solo on the Sly Stone classic.

This brand new, 2007 latest release from Kermit Ruffins shakes the floors. The 13 tracks cover the full spectrum of his talents with a live performance. If you like N.O. jazz you'll love this cd. His playing and the great recording really bring New Orleans jazz home. Try it. You'll enjoy every minute, over and over.

If you like New Orleans brass you will love this recording. While its impossible to capture the beauty and energy of this genre on CD, this is the next best thing to hearing it in person.

If you are unfamiliar, Ruffins is a true master of this style. His energy is almost superhuman.

There isn't a weak track in this set, but my favorites are Skokiaan, O-o-h Child, World on a String, Drop me Off in New Orleans, Treme Second Line, and If You Want Me to Stay.

After you get this, try his CD Throwback with Its Later Than You Think and What is New Orleans Pt. 2. I also love 1533 St. Philip Street.

Kermit is a little known ( unless you are from N Orleans or frequest juke joints)
from a area in New Orleans called the Treme.
The Treme is a small area next to Louis Armstrong Park.......It was hit by Katrina but fortunately neither Kerkit or I lost big on on that storm.

He is really a gentleman that will make your bones chill once he gets going.......
He also is the owner of many homes in the Treme most of which he rents out and he is not a slub landlord.......
He takes care of his tenant like his does his profession and gives 110%, every CD I have of his id fine. Really fine......

I bought a house in the "Treme" ( there is a weekly TV Program about this area, , walk across Rampart St by Armstrong Park and to your right is the Treme.) So full of history you can smell is coming.

I bought a bi plex rental home and being the only white dude there at the time was a bit worried, Kermit and many of my neighbors once they found out I was squared away sent people to me.

In the Quarter and "Treme" the color and other hang ups many of us have disappear...We came a family looking after eaxch other until our Great Country screwed or tried to screw all of us........

This is what Ketmit. Dr, John and so many of the musicians from the Quarter and that area talk about....My heart breaks I miss all of them so bad butI am in Mich for awhile having to satisfy myself with their music until hopefully I havem my folks squared away

If you can overlook less than perfect production but want to hear a self described Master Chef laying down some incredible "Crescent City Smoke" check out Live at Vaughns. This CD finishes what HBO's Treme' started highlighting the best music New Orleans has to offer post Katrina. The complete live tracks of "Skokkian", "Hide the Reefer" and cover's of "If you Want me to Stay", " Be Thankful for What you Got", and "Ohh Child" were only previewed during various episodes of the show but come to new light in their full length glory on this compilation. TV's Treme brought back a new appriciation for New Orleans Music that I originally enjoyed after a visit to the the Jazz and Heritage Festival in 1995. Back than I discovered the music of the Neville Brothers, Radiators and Subdudes. Thanks to HBO's Treme, I became aware of Kermit Ruffins, also his original band The ReBirth Brass Band. Buy this CD it's not seeing it youself @ Vaughns on a Thursday Night, but if you close your eyes while listening you might smell some of Kermit's B B Q!

After watching TREME (HBO) I bought this CD because I always had a passion for bluesy traditional jazz and particularly horns. Kermit Ruffins, is in my humble opinion, the best trumpet player of that genre. While modern Jazz has it's place in the upper echelon of quality music. THIS IS THE TRUTH........

From Le Bon Temps to Vaughns, Kermit brings a style and flair that you just have to respond to...this recording captures the essence of the small club music scene in New Orleans and makes you want to move.

As a big fan of Kermit, I must say the CD isn't his best work, but its not bad and certainly, I prefer a live album to any recorded in a studio.

seen kermit live a couple of times and really enjoyed him. great entertainer with a lot of charisma. my first kermit cd i bought was this. not well produced. female vocals on 'do you know what it means ...' are terrible. a great song 'if you want me to stay' also suffers from terrible vocals.

no fun writing this. must be another, better kermit cd out there.

i do recommend seeing live - guaranteed fun!