MOG Editorial Review

Few musicians capture the eclectic musical spirit of New Orleans better than Kermit Ruffins. Though he's finally getting his crossover moment thanks to his involvement with HBO's Treme, Ruffins' finest moment so far came a decade before with Swing This! While there's plenty of the vibrant, feel-good jazz you'd expect from a NoLa staple like Ruffins, there's a little bit of everything from the region represented here, but Ruffins' penchant for big band swing really captures the city's larger-than-life mood. Whether he's covering "This Little Light" or putting out an inspired original like "Treme Second Line," it's impossible to listen to Swing This! without picturing yourself dancing down Bourbon Street.