In a city where extraordinary musicianship is a routine assumption, the career of Kermit Ruffin's now rises to an even more rarified standard. Yes, the man can blow a horn. Yes, he can front as tight as a quartet as New Orleans can offer. Yes, Kermit Ruffin's and the Barbecue Swingers will, in the course of any given set, mock and obliterate the boundaries that separate straight jazz from funk, standards from hip hop. Yes, the music always comes correct. His immeasurable talent is showcased on his latest album, LIVIN A TREME LIFE.