Kermit Ruffins w/ Rebirth Brass Band

 
Kermit Ruffins had a reunion with the Rebirth Brass Band for this 2005 release. Ruffins dominates the music to an extent, contributing the majority of the selections, usually taking a vocal and adding a few spectacular trumpet solos. His good-humored description on "What Is New Orleans, Pt. 2" now sounds nostalgic and a bit wistful since this was recorded right before Hurricane Katrina, and it unintentionally describes what is lost and will hopefully return someday. The Rebirth Brass Band are in fine form, particularly the mighty tuba playing of Philip Frazier. Most of the performances are celebratory and perfect party music (other than the annoying closing rap "Up in tha Hood"), soulful yet tied to the brass band tradition while still looking ahead. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow

According to Basin Street Records: "It takes all of 30 seconds.Whether listening to a track on his newest CD, engaging him in conversation or hearing his voice on an answering machine message, one word springs immediately to mind to describe Kermit Ruffins. Passion.
The 44-year-old New Orleans native lives it, plays it and sings about it, and nowhere is it more evident than when he discusses his craft  the swinging, good-time jazz that lured him in as a teenager and continues to whet his appetite even three decades and 10 solo recordings later.

JazzTimes (pp.127-128) - "Many of the songs are built on blues riffs or vamps, and when these guys start blowing, it's hard to sit passively..."