Ruffins, Kermit
Basin Street, 2009, CD
Instrument: Trumpet
Issue: 15.4
Jazz Ruler Type: Dixieland
Performance: 4
Sound: 3
Score: 
O’s Notes: New Orleans based trumpeter Kermit Ruffins puts his spin on the traditional holiday favorites. His core band is Neal Caine (b), Matt Lammler (p) and Herlin Riley (d). He also uses some of his Basin St. buddies, Irvin Mayfield (organ) and Troy Andrews (tb) to add extra punch. Ruffins adds a strong dose of jazz to “Silent Night” borrowing elements from “All Blues”. He takes Santa for a ride down Bourbon Street on “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”. We also enjoyed the arrangements of “Winter Wonderland” and “Let It Snow”. Michaela Harrison joins Kermit adding a soft, delicate touch to “Baby It’s Cold Outside” and he restates his allegiance to New Orleans with “A Saints Christmas”. These are fresh arrangements that will appeal to jazz fans and fans of holiday music too. It certainly will capture a spot in our Christmas rotation!
Publicist: Basin Street Records
