Often one can judge the merits of a lesser-known player by the musicians he or she uses on their recordings. For this fine release from the Swiss TCB label, guitarist
Roni Ben-Hur is joined by the immortal bop pianist
Barry Harris, bassist
Lisle Atkinson and drummer
Leroy Williams for a set of delightful bop.
Ben-Hur, who came to New York in the mid-1980's so as to study with
Harris, has a cool sound (a little reminiscent of
Jimmy Raney) and is a relaxed and inventive improviser. The repertoire features attractive chord changes and underplayed standards including "The Thrill Is Gone,"
Bud Powell's "Dance Of The Infidels" and
Sonny Rollins' "Audubon." There are also two originals by
Harris (the title cut is based on "Embraceable You"), one from the guitarist and an effective vocal by
Ben-Hur's wife
Amy London on "Something To Live For." This set is easily recommended to fans of bop.