If New Orleans' tutelary figure Louis Armstrong ever had a spiritual son, Kermit Ruffins must be the one. Even more than trombonist Glen David Andrews. He has the trumpet, he has the growling voice, he has the rejoicing kind and warm friendliness, he has the exuberant showmanship.
Oddly enough, though he started playing trumpet at 13, he didn't get really interested in jazz before discovering Armstrong at the age of 17, which is amazing considering that he is a full New Orleanian, raised in Tremé and in a very musical family (1).