Roni Ben-Hur
 Keepin’ It Open


Motema Records




Guitarist Roni Ben-Hur has put out an attractive straight ahead disc that shows a fascinating trend in jazz by mixing middle eastern harmonies to the jazz idium. Yes, he’s able to play it straight and in the pocket, as on the warmly delivered quartet reading of “Can’t We Be Friends”. He’s also able to bop with the best, as he veers through Elmo Hope’s “One Second Please” and his own “My Man Mr. Harris” with trumpeter Jeremy Pelt like it was 52nd street circa 1947. Pelt is crisp as celery on these pieces, and Ben-Hur drives the band like a charioteer at Circus Maximus. The exotica enters in on his Mediterranean reading of “Andaluza” and the Sephardic melody “Eshkolit”. On both of these, the tones blend together like a sunset in Cypress; warm, glowing with a gentle fresh breeze touching your face. This is lovely music; fresh and alive.


-George W. Harris