Kermit Ruffins
Trumpeter of Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers

Alec: Welcome to the chat everybody!

Kermit Ruffins: We are coming to you live by the way of New Orleans! If you ever get a chance, come on down and party New Orleans style -- for those who are not from down here.

Joli: Kermit, when did you first start to play the trumpet?

Kermit Ruffins: I first started to play the trumpet in high school in the 8th grade at Lawless Senior High.

Lipid: What music do you like to listen to at home?

Kermit Ruffins: Well, I am a BIG fan of WWOZ radio. My favorite radio station - I listen every morning. I've been listening to WWOZ for about 16 years.

Alec: WWOZ can be found on the web at http://www.wwoz.org.

Kermit Ruffins: And, I also like 'oldies but goodies'. Earth, Wind and Fire, the Commodores. Stuff like that.

Shiner: Kermit, what was your experience with the Rebirth like?

Kermit Ruffins: The Rebirth was the best thing that ever happened to the guys that started the Rebirth. Me and Philip Frazier started the band and right away we started traveling around the world. The Rebirth was the best experience I ever could have.

nodrummer: Do you BBQ at every show?

Kermit Ruffins: No, I don't BBQ at every show. But, I tend to do it quite often. [laughs]

Shiner: How do you manage that?

Kermit Ruffins: It's pretty easy. Right before I start playing, I light up my grill. I love to cook my hot sausage because I like to drink beer. That hot sausage sobers you up and keeps you going -- all night long. That sausage really cooks itself.

Brad: Who are your musical heroes?

Kermit Ruffins: I would have to say Louis Armstrong is #1. Everyone else falls behind him. And the big bands - Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Count Basie. I watch their videos like crazy for months. One of my favorite vocalists is Eddy Jefferson.

Joli: Do you like to be compared to Louis Armstrong?

Kermit Ruffins: Well it's definitely OK by me... [laughs] He was the best that ever did it - as far as playing trumpet goes.

Joli: Who are your favorite Brass Bands?

Kermit Ruffins: I would have to say the Rebirth. [Laughs] I love Doc Paulin - he does the really old stuff that no else is doing. He is Roderic Paulin's father.

Music Man: Hey Kermit, what was the first recording you ever bought?

Kermit Ruffins: Good question. Probably have to be the Olympia Brass band or the Dirty Dozen. I wanted to learn all of those old tunes.

nodrummer: Do you have a good Danny Barker anecdote?

Kermit Ruffins: I would say probably the time when Danny Barker hired me to play at the French Quarter festival... We were supposed to be union musicians -- but I wasn't! And I didn't tell him until the last minute that I was non-union.

Kermit Ruffins: He said "Why you didn't tell me that when I first called you?" So Danny Barker says "We just have to use another name" -- so I used Benny Jones' name. Benny got my check. He paid me back two weeks later.. Ha Ha [laughs]

Kermit Ruffins: Nonunion guys use a union name so they can get some money - for the cats that are not in the union.

noisecrime: What are your future plans?

Kermit Ruffins: Well, I plan to do a lot of traveling around the world getting my name really popular and opening up in major venues. and do lots of Big band records, he he he. [Laughs]

Shiner: What's your favorite city to play (besides New Orleans, of course)?

Kermit Ruffins: I would have to say Amsterdam.

nodrummer: Who's your favorite drummer in New Orleans?

Kermit Ruffins: Well, I have 2 favorites:, Jerry Anderson and Shannon Powell

Joli: Did you use to play in the Jackson Square?

Kermit Ruffins: I played in Jackson Square every day of the week for about 5 years -- almost every day of the week. [Laughs]

Joli: What is the highest note you can hit?

Kermit Ruffins: I would probably say the fortissimo C -- which is the C above the high C.

nodrummer: Kermit, I remember seeing you play at "The Glass House"

Kermit Ruffins: On a good night! [laughs]

nodrummer: Can you give a little history about "The Glass House"?

Kermit Ruffins: Oh yeah - that was back in the days with the Rebirth. The Glass House originally was the Dirty Dozen - they was playing there every Monday night. And the Rebirth would hang out to hear the good music. All of the Social Aid and Pleasure clubs was outdancing each other.

Kermit Ruffins: To see who was the best dancer.

bb: Why do you like to play Amsterdam?

Kermit Ruffins: Well Amsterdam is a spot where I can smoke reefer with out any trouble. It's legal there, so I am OK! If I had to live anywhere - that would be it.

Lipid: Who makes up the Barbecue Swingers?

Kermit Ruffins: On bass: Kevin Morris; On drums: Jerry Anderson; On Piano: Emile Venette; On slide trombone is Cory Henry ... And that's it!

Lipid: How long have you guys been together?

Kermit Ruffins: Been about 4 years - maybe longer - almost 5 years.

nodrummer: Are you and Irvin Mayfield going to have a rematch? I think he's nooo competition!

Kermit Ruffins: [laughs] Thank you! Irv is a bad, bad trumpet player as far as I am concerned. One of the best in New Orleans.

Kermit Ruffins: we are going 2 times a year once in December and once around Jazz Fest every year and the next time we will use our big bands we both have Big bands. I can't wait to get 2 big bands on stage at one time.

Shiner: Kermit, what do you think of the Swing Revival that seems to be going on these days?

Kermit Ruffins: Well, I think we are pretty lucky. As strong as Rap is -- to have people giving notice to Swing Jazz... we really, really need that. I think it is just as good to have people appreciating it again -- without those people we would be at a standstill.

Music Man: have you ever played any classical or rock music?

Kermit Ruffins: I played a little classical in high school -- our band teacher was really strict on playing classical. When football season was over we had to play that, all day, every day in class.

Lipid: What's the funniest thing that ever happened during a show?

Kermit Ruffins: I would have to say one time when I was having too much fun and dancing... And I fell on my butt !

nodrummer: Are your kids taking-up music?

Kermit Ruffins: Actually, I have all my kids watching on the Internet. My little girl singing on the new record and my son is playing trumpet.

Bb: Did you have a favorite music teacher?

Kermit Ruffins: I would have to say Herman Jones -- he was my first teacher at Lawless. He is over at McDonough 35 Senior High School now. Herman also taught Jesse Davies. And he taught Julius Magee - the Tuba player from the Dirty Dozen.

Joli: Can you give us a secret recipe?

Kermit Ruffins: Yes, indeed. On my latest CD, I put a recipe on the cover. Smoked Turkey - it's not a secret anymore.

Shiner: Kermit, what is the Treme?

Kermit Ruffins: The Treme is the neighborhood where all of the musicians grew up in. Or we all hang out there before their gigs. It is right opposite of the French Quarter. And my band and also the Rebirth band plays at Joe's Cozy Corner every Sunday Night in the Treme.

Music Man: Could you put one of your recipes on the TABASCO^® web site?

Kermit Ruffins: Yes indeed - that will be easy enough.

Bb: What was the first lesson you ever learned about "putting on a good show?"

Kermit Ruffins: Hmmn. I would have to say... Always, always, rehearse on stage. And don't be afraid to try anything. We never rehearse as a band. Only before a record. [Laughs]

Music Man: What do you think about Miles Davis?

Kermit Ruffins: I had the opportunity to watch Miles play in France at the Nice festival. I would have to say I love everything Miles ever stood for.

nodrummer: Are you still doing the Sunday brunch at Tipitina's? Would you ever cook for one of those?

Kermit Ruffins: No. Our lease is up. [laughs]

bb: Do you have anything to tell aspiring jazz trumpet students?

Kermit Ruffins: Yes -- Keep practicing -- and stick to your long tones.

Kermit Ruffins: And NEVER let anything discourage you.

Shiner: Have you ever played a jazz funeral before?

Kermit Ruffins: Actually, I probably played over 200 jazz funerals within 16 years I have been playing Jazz.

Shiner: What was the nicest one you remember?

Kermit Ruffins: I would have to say a cat named Uncle Ratty He was a great dancer and a good friend of everyone in the Treme.

Kermit Ruffins: We played about a week - every day. The crowd would always chant: "Un-cle Ra-tty"

nodrummer: do you still perform "Besame Mucho"?

Kermit Ruffins: Yes -- Whenever it it's requested -- It is one of my favorites. I bought a CD of Nat King Cole version when I was in Spain... I love his version.

Shiner: Kermit, what's your favorite beer?

Kermit Ruffins: [laughs] I would have to say Bud Light. I am drinking one right as we speak. [Laughs]

Music Man: What do you love about New Orleans most?

Kermit Ruffins: I would have to say being able to come home after every gig to my family. I am taking advantage of that now because I will be traveling real soon.

Music Man: What do you mean by practicing the "long tones"?

Kermit Ruffins: Grab any note on a trumpet and hold it real loud, and real soft. Both. It is good for your sound. It's the best thing for any instrument.It makes your sound real fat. Hold it real long - loud and soft but long.

Shiner: I haven't seen you guys live yet, but I heard you actually COOK food while you PLAY sometimes. For Real?

Kermit Ruffins: Oh yes. We have a pickup truck with my BBQ grill in the back. I have lots of Pecan wood and any blue moon - I will light up the grill. I used to just feed the band -- now we feed anybody.

nodrummer: Who's your favorite musician from the older generation that you have performed with?

Kermit Ruffins: Before me -- I always wanted to perform with Louis Jordan. I did have the opportunity to perform with Lionel Hampton. I performed with Lionel with the New Orleans Orchestra three months ago.

Bb: Who have you learned from most as a musician?

Kermit Ruffins: Tuba Fats, Uncle Lionel Baptiste, Benny Jones, Milton Baptiste. George Johnson -- A trumpet player from way back. Tuba Fats hired me way back when I was with Rebirth. He taught me a lot just sitting at the bar -- not even playing.

nodrummer: Do you make your own BBQ sauce?

Kermit Ruffins: Most of the time I only make it for family picnics. Yes I do. The recipe is always different. I use beer or wine - depends.

nodrummer: do you have a favorite DJ on WWOZ?

Kermit Ruffins: yes, Henri Smith - pronounced "on-ree" -- He announced us at the beginning of the recording with WWOZ.

Lipid: have you ever thought of inventing your own instrument? maybe a grilling tuba or something with propane attachments...

Kermit Ruffins: he he [laughs] No - I never thought about that - I keep busy trying to learn the trumpet

Music Man: Who is the very young voice I've heard singing on your CD?

Kermit Ruffins: That's my little girl Neshia Ruffins. She sung the lead on the new CD. with me and Christina - live.

Lipid: How old is Neshia?

Kermit Ruffins: Neshia is 6 years old. She is coming to the phone now.

Alec: Neisha is on the line...

Kermit Ruffins: She is acting a little shy - he he.

Shiner: Do you ever think about teaching one day?

Kermit Ruffins: Yeah -- I can't wait. Some cat is talking about a school in Treme -- teaching piano, and banjo and clarinet. I can't wait.

nodrummer: How does Neshia feel when she hears herself on the radio?

Kermit Ruffins: She usually just smiles. She hears it on the jukeboxes in the Treme.

Shiner: How did the Second Line come to be, anyway? What is that?

Kermit Ruffins: Second Line - that kind of started when the people who followed the brass bands down the street. We're always on the second line on the street.

Kermit Ruffins: They started calling them the Second Liners -- it is a dance, a song -- it is a whole culture here in this city.

nodrummer: have you ever masked as an Indian?

Kermit Ruffins: No, but I attend plenty of Indian practices every Sunday in the season. I usually have a cowbell -- I love the Indian beat. With the Rebirth we recorded with Bo Dollis and Monk Boudreaux. It was great.

Lipid: When is the season?

Kermit Ruffins: Right after second line season. Right about winter time -- the day after Thanksgiving. The Second Line season starts at the same time.

nodrummer: Until St. Joseph's day.

Kermit Ruffins: It depends on when the Social Aid and Pleasure club wants to parade -- almost year round.

Shiner: What are the Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs?

Kermit Ruffins: Every year a Social Aid club is a group of guys or girls who have a parade. They dress up in the same clothing - really expensive clothing, I might add. and they would Second Line from bar to bar with a route sheet that the club comes up with. It lasts for a four hour period. They would hire a band - a lot of times it is the Rebirth.

Alec: Are they fun to play?

Kermit Ruffins: They are fun to play. The whole city comes out dancing. Sometimes the clubs have anywhere from one to five divisions -- each division has a band. Some have been around for 100 years. They have a king and a queen. They have a real tradition.

Shiner: What are some of the names of the clubs?

Kermit Ruffins: Well, we have the Buck Jumpers, the Sidewalk Steppers - I was the king. the Money Wasters, the Young Men Olympics, the Treme Sports... and the list goes on and on.

nodrummer: Do you belong to any of these?

Kermit Ruffins: No, but I affiliate myself with the Treme Sidewalk steppers because they are all of my old friends.

Alec: Some closing comments, Kermit?

Kermit Ruffins: If you haven't been to New Orleans, please come on down and have a good time! We are playing all over the city. My Email address is fashigidy@aol.com. That is slang in New Orleans for "For Sure"

Kermit Ruffins: Somebody says, "I'll be at that party" and you say "Fashigidy!" They can also check out the Basin Street records web site which is real good. -- www.basinstreetrecords.com. We have a message board there.

Music Man: Thanks Kermit!

Shiner: Thanks Kermit - it was a blast hearing it all first hand!

nodrummer: Thank yoooouuuuu kermit!!!! You're the swingiest!!!!

Joli: Kermit - do you like Ernie K-Doe?

Joli: Mr. Ma-naw-ga-hyde?

nodrummer: He's the "Emperor of the World".

Joli: No doubt about it.

nodrummer: A Charity Hospital baby.

Kermit Ruffins: Fashigidy! lol lol lol.

Joli: I love that expression!

Lipid: Kermit rocks the free world!

Kermit Ruffins: THANKS Y'ALL!

Kermit Ruffins: Goodnight!

Alec: And thank the rest of you for participating!