I recently released a CD recording called TRAD JAZZ ORIGINALS - Dave Ruffner. It contains 14 songs that I wrote in the traditional jazz style between the years 1992 to 2018. Some of the songs are from old Blue Street recordings, while others are from more recent recordings made in New Orleans. The musicians in the various bands in the recording are outstanding. Since I didn't make any liner notes for this recording, I thought I'd list the selections and give a brief explanation for the tune.
PISMO BEACH MARDI GRAS - recorded in 1997 on my DAVE RUFFNER AND FRIENDS CD by members of the Blue Street Jazz Band. Co-written by Bob Embry. A tune that celebrates the defunct Pismo Beach Mardi Gras Festival that was held in February.
SIDNEY - also recorded in 1997 for my DAVE RUFFNER AND FRIENDS CD by members of the Blue Street Jazz Band. It features Bob Embry on soprano saxophone. The song pays tribute to the great Sidney Bechet.
LOVE IS EVERYWHERE - recorded in 2000 for my PLAYIN' RUFF CD featuring members of the Blue Street Jazz Band. This song is about a couple that I knew that met at a jazz festival and got married.
JAZZDAGEN - recorded by the Blue Street Jazz Band in 2004 for the BLUE PLATE SPECIAL CD. Jazzdagen is a touring company owned by Alida and Pieter Meijers. I took a few Jazzdagen tours over the years.
LITTLE KATIE, DIXIELAND LADY - recorded in 2007 by the Blue Street Jazz Band on the HOME CD. To keep the story short, the song is about a wonderful dog that I had.
GREAT BEAR RAG - recorded in 1997 on my DAVE RUFFNER AND FRIENDS CD by members of the Blue Street Jazz Band. Co-written by Bob Embry. This song was written as a tribute to a gentleman we met when playing in Montana named Cal Dupre. He was a native American with French ancestry.
SAN JOAQUIN SUNRISE - recorded in 1993 by the Blue Street Jazz Band for the WHEN MUSIC COLLIDES CD. Co-written by Bob Embry. The song is about the sun coming up over Bear Mountain in Kern County on an early summer morning.
THAT HIGH SIERRA BAND - also recorded in 1993 by the Blue Street Jazz Band for the WHEN MUSIC COLLIDE CD. The song pays tribute to the once traditional jazz dynamo - HIGH SIERRA JAZZ BAND.
GOING NOWHERE - recorded in New Orleans in 2011 for my IN THE VALLEY SAN JOAQUIN CD by a group of New Orleans musicians.
WALKING DOWN IN NEW ORLEANS - also recorded in 2011 for my IN THE VALLEY SAN JOAQUIN CD by members of the Blue Street Jazz Band. The song is about my experiences as a tourist in New Orleans.
THE CAFE BEIGNET - recorded in 2013 by various New Orleans musicians for my DAVE RUFFNER AND THE BEIGNET ORCHESTRA Volume 1. The Cafe Beignet is where I work in New Orleans on 311 Bourbon Street.
THE MAISON BOURBON - recorded in 2014 by various New Orleans musicians for my NEW ORLEANS SOJOURN CD. The Maison Bourbon is another place where I work in New Orleans on 641 Bourbon Street.
LET'S GO DOWN TO FRITZEL'S - recorded in 2010 by the Blue Street Jazz Band for the TAINT' WHAT YOU DO CD. Fritzel's is yet another place that I work at in New Orleans on 733 Bourbon Street.
ESPLANADE ESCAPADE - recorded in 2018 by various New Orleans musicians for my DAVE RUFFNER AND THE BEIGNET ORCHESTRA Volume 3 CD. I live close to Esplanade Avenue and the tune is about what it might have been like on a night out on the town in old New Orleans.