Roni Ben-Hur is an

Israeli Israeli may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the State of Israel * Israelis, citizens or permanent residents of the State of Israel * Modern Hebrew, a language * ''Israeli'' (newspaper), published from 2006 to 2008 * Guni Israeli ...

jazz guitarist who immigrated to the United States in 1985. His parents were Tunisian-Jewish from

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Biography

Roni Bohobza grew up in

Dimona Dimona ( he, דִּימוֹנָה, ar, ديمونا) is an Israeli city in the Negev desert, to the south-east of Beersheba and west of the Dead Sea above the Arava valley in the Southern District of Israel. In its population was . The Shi ...

, Israel. He is the youngest of seven children and one of two born after the family emigrated from

Tunisia ) , image_map = Tunisia location (orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = Location of Tunisia in northern Africa , image_map2 = , capital = Tunis , largest_city = capital , ...

in 1955. His surname was legally changed to Ben-Hur via ritual at age 10. When he was eleven, he started playing guitar. He learned about jazz from a high school's friend's record collection. In Israel he performed in clubs and at weddings and bar mitzvahs until he had enough money to move to the U.S. He arrived in New York City in 1985, spending time at

Barry Harris Barry Doyle Harris (December 15, 1929 – December 8, 2021) was an American jazz pianist, bandleader, composer, arranger, and educator. He was an exponent of the bebop style. Life and career Harris was born in Detroit, Michigan, on December ...

's Jazz Cultural Theater. He took lessons from Harris, then became a member of his band. Ben-Hur's experience as an educator dates back to 1981 in Israel. In the U.S. he started jazz music programs at

Professional Performing Arts School The Professional Performing Arts School, colloquially known as PPAS, is a public middle and high school in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, New York City. History PPAS was created in 1990 to meet the needs of two groups of students: those who wanted t ...

, the Coalition School for Social Change, and at the

Lucy Moses School Kaufman Music Center's Lucy Moses School is a community arts school located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City. Founded in 1952 as The Hebrew Arts School for Music and Dance, it is now part of Kaufman Music Center, a performing a ...

. At the request of

Bette Midler Bette Midler (;''Inside the Actors Studio'', 2004 born December 1, 1945) is an American singer, actress, comedian and author. Throughout her career, which spans over five decades, Midler has received List of awards and nominations received by Be ...

, he started a jazz program for New York City high schools. Ben-Hur began a jazz camp in

Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne (, literally ''Saint-Cézaire on Siagne''; oc, Sant Cesari de Sianha) is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France. Geography Far from the major thoroughfares, Saint-Cézaire-sur-Siagne lie ...

, France, with Santi Debriano. With

Nilson Matta Nilson Matta is a Brazilian bassist and composer. He has been based in New York City since 1985. He is also known for his work with Trio da Paz, Don Pullen African Brazilian Connection, Joe Henderson, Yo Yo Ma and Nilson Matta's Brazilian Voy ...

, he began a jazz and

Brazilian music The music of Brazil encompasses various regional musical styles influenced by European, American, African and Amerindian forms. Brazilian music developed some unique and original styles such as forró, repente, coco de roda, axé, sertanejo, ...

camp in

Bar Harbor Bar Harbor is a resort town on Mount Desert Island in Hancock County, Maine, United States. As of the 2020 census, its population is 5,089. During the summer and fall seasons, it is a popular tourist destination and, until a catastrophic fire ...

, Maine, both intended for adult jazz amateurs. He is the founding director of the jazz program at the

Kaufman Center Kaufman Music Center is a performing arts complex in New York City that houses Lucy Moses School, Special Music School, and Merkin Hall and the "Face the Music" program. Originally known as the Hebrew Arts School, it was founded in 1952 and is ...

in Manhattan where he teaches. His book ''Talk Jazz: Guitar'' (

Mel Bay Mel Bay (February 25, 1913 – May 14, 1997) was an American musician and publisher best known for his series of music education books. His '' Encyclopedia of Guitar Chords'' remains a bestseller. Biography Early life Melbourne E. Bay was bo ...

, 2004) includes a CD with a removable guitar track of Ben-Hur performing the exercises in the book with

Tardo Hammer Richard Alan "Tardo" Hammer (born February 26, 1958, New York City) is an American jazz pianist. Hammer's mother is an amateur pianist.Gary W. Kennedy, "Tardo Hammer". '' The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz''. 2nd edition, ed. Barry Kernfeld. He wo ...

on piano, Earl May on bass, and

Leroy Williams Leroy Williams (February 3, 1941 – June 1, 2022) was an American drummer, mostly known for his work in jazz. Williams first began playing drums as a teenager in the 1950s. From 1959 to the middle of the 1960s he played with singer Judy Roberts, ...

on drums. His album ''Anna's Dance'' was named by ''

The Village Voice ''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, the ''Voice'' began as a platform for the crea ...

'' one of the best jazz albums of 2001. ''

All About Jazz ''All About Jazz'' is a website established by Michael Ricci in 1995. A volunteer staff publishes news, album reviews, articles, videos, and listings of concerts and other events having to do with jazz. Ricci maintains a related site, ''Jazz Near ...

'' called him "a virtuoso guitarist with impeccable swing". In 2000, he won the '' Jazziz'' reader poll for "Best New Talent". Ben-Hur lives in

Teaneck Teaneck () is a township in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is a bedroom community in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the township's population was 39,776, reflecting an increase of 516 (+1.3%) f ...

, New Jersey, with his wife, singer

Amy London Amy London is a jazz singer and educator who has appeared on Broadway and in the vocal group ''The Royal Bopsters''. London grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio. She moved to Manhattan in 1980 and began teaching jazz vocals in 1984. ''When I Look in Your ...

, and their two daughters.

Discography

* ''Backyard'' with

(TCB, 1995) * ''Sofia's Butterfly'' (TCB, 1998) * ''Anna's Dance'' (

Reservoir A reservoir (; from French ''réservoir'' ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam. Such a dam may be either artificial, built to store fresh water or it may be a natural formation. Reservoirs can be created in a number of ways, including contro ...

, 2001) * ''Signature'' (Reservoir, 2005) * ''Keepin' It Open'' ( Motéma, 2007) * ''Smile'' with

Gene Bertoncini Gene J. Bertoncini (born 6 April 1937) is an American jazz guitarist. Biography Bertoncini was born in New York City, where he was raised in a musical family. His father, Mario Bertoncini (1901–1978), played guitar and harmonica. Gene began pl ...

(Motéma, 2008) * ''Fortuna'' (Motéma, 2009) * ''Mojave'' with

(Motéma, 2011) * ''Our Thing'' with Santi Debriano, Duduka Da Fonseca (Motéma, 2012) * ''Alegria de Viver'' with

Leny Andrade Leny de Andrade Lima, known professionally as Leny Andrade, was born in Rio de Janeiro, on January 26, 1943, and is a Brazilian singer and musician. Both Andrade's first and last names are sometimes misspelled in English as "Lenn", "Leni", and "A ...

(Motéma, 2014) * ''Introspection'' with Harvie S. (Jazzheads, 2018) * ''Stories'' (Dot Time Records, 2021)

References

External links

Official site
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ben-Hur, Roni 1962 births Living people Israeli emigrants to the United States Israeli people of Tunisian-Jewish descent Israeli Jews People from Dimona American jazz educators American jazz guitarists 20th-century American guitarists Motéma Music artists Reservoir Records artists