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Known for his trumpet-playing and raspy vocals, he has been compared to Louis Armstrong and Louis Prima. In a 2009 song, Jeremy Davenport referred to him as “Mr. New Orleans,” an appropriate title for Crescent City native Kermit Ruffins.
According to a biography by music reporter Richard Skelly, Ruffins learned the trumpet as a teenager and played in the French Quarter for tips before starting the Rebirth Brass Band in 1983 with high school friends. Since discovering his music hero Armstrong as a young man, he has turned his passion for jazz into a living.
“The King of Treme,” as Davenport called him, released his first album, “World on a String,” in 1993. Joined by musicians such as Ellis Marsalis, he delivered a mix of original tunes and covers, including “I’ve Got the World on a String” and “When My Dreamboat Comes Home.”
Since his debut, Ruffins’ career has produced a dozen albums, including a Christmas CD in 2009 and a couple live recordings. His music pays tribute to the Big Easy not only with the trumpet and jazz piano, but also through song themes. He celebrates Louisiana culture and southern food with cheerful tracks such as “Struttin’ with Some Barbecue” and “Meet Me at the Second Line.”
With his May 2013 release “We Partyin’ Traditional Style!” Ruffins offered another blend of fast-paced and downtempo, classic and modern jazz. From “Exactly like You,” which could play in the background at a dinner party, to the closing track, “When the Saints Go Marching In,” he incorporated a variety of New Orleans sounds into the album.
Ruffins is a regular at local venues, including Jazz Fest and his Treme Speakeasy Restaurant and Bar. He has appeared in the HBO series “Treme,” named for the historic New Orleans neighborhood and set after Hurricane Katrina and will also be featured on “Top Chef: New Orleans,” which will premiere Oct. 2 on Bravo.
Ruffins and his current band, the Barbecue Swingers, which formed in 1992, have shared their music and personalities at home and throughout the country. Their tour promoting “We Partyin’ Traditional Style!” ran from late July to late August and from Chicago to San Francisco. At shows, Ruffins’ fun-loving, happy nature shines as he bounces to the music, interacts with the audience and encourages fans to sing along.
Ruffins demonstrates passion for his city through his recordings and performances. While evoking memories of classic performers, he keeps jazz and the spirit of New Orleans alive.
