Customer Reviews

Swing This

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

 

 

From the opening trumpets glares of Bogalusa Strut to the old style melancholy snare of Bucket's Got A Hole In It, Ruffins hits all the notes. His fun, entertaining, traditional New Orleans style jazz playing borders a young Louis Armstrong. After seeing him at Jazz Fest a few years back I bought this CD. It is still one of my favorite's. Just click BUY and all your troubles will be washed away with Kermit and the Gang!!

Kermit Ruffins, Swing This! Kermit Ruffins is a modern day hero for traditional jazz, a preserver of traditional jazz, and, over the course of his career, has become a symbol for New Orleans. He is considered a living embodiment of the great Louis Armstrong, with his trumpet playing style, his lovable singing voice and his joyful, joyful spirit. This album holds twelve studio-recorded tracks featuring Kermit and his faithful Barbecue Swingers. The six-piece band (trumpet, trombone, piano, sax, bass and drums) has a giant big band sound, and they knock out some swinging versions of jazz standards like "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Ma, He's Making Eyes At Me." With Kermit leading the way with fat, happy trumpet lines and raspy-voiced spirited singing, these guys are having a blast playing together. It's contagious. You're going to have fun listening to this album. Even on a classically melancholy tune like Gershwin's "But Not For Me," the Barbecue Swingers manage to uplift the spirits. Kermit's kids get in on the act, too, joining the band for a hand-clapping version of the Sunday school classic "This Little Light of Mine." After listening to the album a few times, it is hard to imagine that Kermit's originals have not always been among the New Orleans standards. Songs like "Can't Take My Baby Nowhere," "Things Are Getting Better" and the parade song "Treme Second Line" are so purely New Orleans that they seem like old anthems. Swing This! delivers nothing but joy, joy, joy!

Kermit serves up another fine selection of New Orleans-style funk-based swing. If you liked "Live" then this is a must have! Logan will love this one...

Kermit serves up another fine selection of New Orleans-style funk-based swing. If you liked "Live" then this is a must have! Logan will love this one...

I first hear Kermit at Jazzfest '99, where he played virtually this entire CD. Everytime I listen to it, I'm back in that huge, hot, tent! This disc is probably more for the trad jazz lover, with a little unexpected(like his daughter singing lead).

Band is great! Mr. Ruffins is a fine trumpeter. For those not familiar, this is a mixture of New Orleans Dixieland Jazz and that of a big band like Duke Ellington's. However, Mr. Ruffins tries to sing on almost every number. It must be a New Orleans tradition, but just because you are the leader of the band does not mean you can sing. Much like Harry Connick, Jr., he should stick to his instrument and not sing. He tries to carry a tune, but he doesn't come close. Then he tries singing scat--better left to Ella. If you can listen around his singing to the actual band, it's a fine album.