Jazz
Jeremy Pelt - Trumpet
Lewis Nash - Drums
Ronnie Mathews - Piano
Santi Debriano - Bass
Steve Kroon - Percussion
* Allan Tucker - Mastering
* Bill Milkowski - Liner Notes
* Brian Dozoretz - Engineer
* Jana Herzen - Art Direction, Executive Producer
* John Abbott - Photography
* Suzi Reynolds - Producer
A superior straight-ahead guitarist who can swing as hard as anyone, Roni Ben-Hur alternates jazz standards with some unusual material on Keepin' It Open, his fifth CD as a leader. Heading a sextet that also features fine solos from trumpeter Jeremy Pelt and pianist Ronnie Mathews, Ben-Hur explores an Israeli folk song ("Eshkolit"), the Spanish piece "Andaluza," "Recado Bossa Nova," and two of his originals in addition to three well-known pieces, Elmo Hope's "One Second Please" and Thelonious Monk's "Think of One." Everything works well and there is not a slow moment throughout this enjoyable outing. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Roni Ben-Hur
Active Decades: '90s and '00s
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Bop, Hard Bop
A bop-oriented guitarist, Roni Ben-Hur emigrated from Israel in 1985. Since that time he has hooked up with pianist Barry Harris (whose trio appears on his 1994 TCB CD Backyard), often utilized pianist Chris Anderson in his quartet, and married singer Amy London, with whom he recorded Two for the Road for the Fivecat label. In addition, Ben-Hur worked with Bill Doggett, George Kelly, Gene Bertoncini and Ralph Lalama. Ben-Hur, who has a swinging and appealing guitar style, has also had an active career as a jazz educator.
---Scott Yanow, All Music Guide |
