Roni Ben-Hur

"As eloquent as a cool breeze, this understated exercise in bebop equilibrium goes down so easy you might underestimate the magic something only Barry Harris can effect. Ben-Hur, a guitarist with a low flame burning in every note, and Charles Davis, trading in his Sun Ra baritone for suave tenor, speak Harris' lingo like natives." 

– Gary Giddins, Village Voice 
 

"While Roni Ben-Hur has been on the scene since the mid 1980's, when he moved to the United States from Israel to study with Barry Harris, he still remains unknown to the larger listening public. With the release of his first Reservoir recording, though, Ben-Hur has proven himself to be a proficient and insightful musician with a clarity of tone and concept. True to his friends who have supported him from the beginning, Ben-Hur has included Barry Harris, Walter Booker, Charles Davis and Leroy Williams on Anna's Dance. Thus, the treat of the CD is quadrupled. Even though he is heard in New York where he continues to teach and inspire, Harris records too seldom. We get to hear him once again, relaxed and insightful as he enriches each of the tunes. Beyond Harris' participation, though, the entire group maintains the same interest in, and same feel for, their music, thereby attaining a unity of sound that's affecting and yet near the edge. 

"Anna's Dance" refers to Ben-Hur's daughter, whose grace must be a sight to behold since the tune itself seamlessly and subtly changes movements from meditative warmup to the glide of a light samba. Just as important, though, is the mature comfort that BenHur expresses as he unfolds his solo, layer upon layer of variations eventually assuming a total shape once the piece is done. Saxophonist Davis blends into the group, his warm tone reassuring even as it contains an almost unnoticeable bite. Strayhorn's "A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing" allows Davis to stretch out in a way reminiscent of Joe Henderson, and yet the tune gives Harris the opportunity to reach the emotional essence of the tune. In fact, Harris contributed two of the tunes for Anna's Dance, "For Dizzy" giving Booker a showcase for setting a bassled foundation upon which the others build. Harris' other tune, "Minor Fable," follows serpentine lines as an improvisational springboard for the others. Yet, the sound of the recording always evolves back to Ben-Hur, whose ability to listen to his friends' ideas even as he gently leads the group makes the listener take notice. BenHur's wordless invitation to his music can't be denied." 

– Don Williamson, AllAboutJazz.com 
 

"I knew it was going to be a winner as soon as Roni Ben-Hur and Charles Davis joined Barry Harris in the first few bars of "So Nice ", by Elmo Hope. The relaxed swinging rendition dictated the format for this great set. These seasoned musicians know how to get the listener all excited and still play in a relaxed controlled manner at any tempo. Everyone gets a chance to solo here and the solo quality is high. The sax and guitar heads in "Visa", by Charlie Parker does it for the tune and the guitar of BenHur keeps the trip in overdrive. 

"Anna's Dance", a Ben-Hur original tribute to his little daughter is so delicate and pensive. Barry and Roni enter together and then the guitar soars over the rhythm with delicate and evocative lines. Charles Davis picks up the threads and then Barry Harris weaves more wondrous phrases into this sweet little tribute. Close your eyes and envision little girls dancing with all their hearts. Roni Ben-Hur is a very thoughtful and pensive guitarist. He planned a fine mix of music and sought excellent and complimentary partners for this group on his first Reservoir cd. The bass and drums swing the session all the way home. The comping of Barry Harris and his soloing and the sax work of Charles Davis, a master of the lyrical improvised line, round off the group. This is a jazz combo, creating swinging improvised music, not a guitar group. I believe the CD has something for all jazz lovers. With kind attention and respect paid to standards as "Love is a Many Splendored Thing" and "A Flower is a Lovesome Thing" {Strayhorn}, and Harris originals '"For Dizzy" and "Minor Fable" there is much going on here. 

"In each tune the group demonstrates a fresh take and opens up more and more ventures into the creative sphere. Now a word about the leader and his guitar. Roni is a technically steeped player with a great vocabulary of lines and phrases. With them, he always manages to say something meaningful. With the cleanest of tones and warmest of sound, he captures the moment and goes all the way with it. Listen to the many ways he enters the ring when he solos. Immediate attention goes to this powerful yet understated guitar. How deftly he dances with the other instruments, always complementary never overpowering, yet always bringing the total performance to a higher level. The guitar solos do not pale in the face of the strong seasoned voices surrounding this younger player. Each BenHur outing is right on focus, full of life and memorable. I was thrilled by the fours in "Minor Fable". These boys were having a ball. As a leader, Roni is a mature and nurturing force. Everyone is featured and the interplay is constant. The players are having a great time and creating together." 

– Dr. Frank Forte 
 

"Elmo Hope's composition "So Nice" is a most apt introduction to the talents of guitarist Roni Ben-Hur. His "niceness" becomes evident with his first few notes on that first track. One hears a rhythmic lushness missing in so many other guitarists. So his "niceness" morphs into worthiness. The title tune, "Anna's Dance," begins with a delightful little duet with the veteran pianist Barry Harris, which all too quickly adds tenor saxophonist Charles Davis. Nothing wrong with Davis' playing it just would have been nice to hear more from Ben-Hur and Harris alone. On Billy Strayhorn's "A Flower is a Lovesome Thing," Davis sets the table for Ben-Hur to explore, and he does so in a laidback, melodic manner. Drummer Leroy Williams and bassist Walter Booker are steady and tasteful." 

– The Portland Skanner 
 

"Decidedly more mainstream, Roni Ben-Hur is a self assured artist in the tradition of Jim Hall and Tal Farlow who first arrived in New York to study with Barry Harris from his native Tel Aviv in 1985. Anna's Dance (Reservoir 167) is BenHur's debut set for Reservoir and among the few things he has committed to tape. The imposing cast brought together includes pianist Harris, bassist Walter Booker, drummer Leroy Williams, and saxophonist Charles Davis. On seven cuts, including two Barry Harris originals, BenHur and his cohorts speak in conversational tones only breaking the medium tempo groove on a brisk "Minor Fable." Davis, who is largely remembered when he's remembered at all as a husky baritone saxophonist, transmits that brusque tone to the tenor horn and his work here alone is worth the price of admission." 

– Chris Hovan