Some AJW readers might have seen Israeli jazz guitarist Roni Ben-Hur play at the St. Paul JCC in February 2011. Ben-Hur, who arrived before the big wave of young Israeli jazz players hit the East Coast, recently released a new album, Our Thing (Motema), which is a collaboration with bassist and composer Santi Debriano, whose résumé includes stints with such jazz luminaries as Archie Shepp, Pharoah Sanders and Freddie Hubbard. The 11 songs are further enhanced by the enchanting and evocative percussion of Duduka Da Fonseca. There are original tunes by Ben-Hur, Debriano and Da Fonseca, and covers of pieces by Thelonious Monk, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Irving Berlin (“Let’s Face the Music and Dance”). Our Thing delivers a sublime, mellow listening experience that is accessible to a wide audience. — Mordecai Specktor
(American Jewish World, 2.1.13)
