Roni Ben-Hur has produced another excellent CD and, perhaps his most exciting yet. “Keepin’ It Open”is the name and harks back to the days when Roni’s mother kept the doors open in Israel to welcome guests to her home. This has rubbed off on him because he has welcomed many guests to play with him as he has been welcomed. So Roni has an open door and somewhat outside the box because he associates with excellent players of all instruments, plays up to and beyond their level, learns something from their experience, and recognizes the influence of people like Barry Harris and Sonny Rollins. He is a jazz player--it doesn’t matter that the instrument he plays is a guitar, he is another melodic or rhythmic jazz voice in his ensembles.

Inside the box, he plays guitar with blazing speed with clarity and complete mastery of the fingerboard and pick. He pays great attention to the dynamics of his originals and the dynamics of his improvisation and can easily become your favorite guitar player. He comes from the tradition of Kenny Burrell, Wes and George Benson but never fails to sound like himself and at that, a major guitar voice?for readers of Just Jazz Guitar, Roni commands attention. He is a master at playing jazz on the archtop guitar. Whether playing solo guitar in a small club or guitar duets with the likes of Gene Bertoncini , Ronnie Ben-Hur is up to the task and generates excitement. If he is playing with Earl May in a large auditorium as Englewood Hospital’s Atrrium, his weekly gig we so appreciate, or with a large ensemble, all of the performances swing and sing.

And speaking of singing , a favorite part of the Ben Hur portrait is his collaborating with Amy London , Roni’s beautiful wife and charming jazz chanteuse.

This CD is a great example of Roni Ben-Hur playing great jazz guitar in a magnificent ensemble--another volume of Roni playing his best with a gathering of the best players around him. The lineup starts appropriately with “Can’t We Be Friends” an old standard, and everybody joins in with swinging anticipation of the music to come.

The very exotic “Eshkolit”, a traditional Sephardic melody which everyone seems to enjoy playing will keep your attention. On “My Man Harris”, a Ronnie Ben-Hur original, we hear the great trumpet of Jeremy Pelt and on “Back When”, another Ronnie original, his playing is unsurpassed for clarity, lyricism, and originality. Ronnie Mathews plays wonderful backup and solo piano on a number of the pieces. The music is driven by Santi Debriano’s base and Lewis Nash’s drums, and Steve Kroon’s percussive grooves heighten the experience especially in Andalucia and Recado Bossa Nova--the last two pieces on the offering. There is a great Dori Caymmi tune , “ Like a Lover “ a recurring favorite given the respect of a fresh reprise . Hear the great Bop linns in Elmo Hope's " One Second Please ". I loved the intro to " Indian Summer "

I can’t help but smile as we listen to the ten great performances on the disc. They reflect the warm friendly person that Roni is. He is a great friend , teacher and composer, all reflected in his music?

This is an exiting CD and one that we have played over and over the first day of receiving it. The quality of the music, the crisp recording performed at Bennet Studios in Englewood New Jersey, and the classy chemistry the group are not surpassed very easily, and I think Ronnie is going to have a hard time making one better than this but I know he will try …..and he will succeed.