Search - Ron Affif :: Viero Blues

An Excellent Hidden Gem

R. Kopald | Oregon | 11/20/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First off, Ron Affif is in many ways the current standard bearer for hard bop and all around great musicianship in the very insular world of jazz guitar. When I bought this, it took a while to grow on me; but one of those rare combinations of the right weather while driving and my frame of mind opened up my ears to this very well executed CD. All of the musicians are monsters, and all of them are there to make the music happen. I personally believe after repeated listens to this recording that Ron Anthony should get some kind of MVP award for incredibly empathic and telepathic support on "Rhythm" guitar. The opener, Solar (Davis) is a killer, with all members proving in the intro alone that they have a deep and abiding respect for the genre and the material. Throw in Colin Bailey, who played extensively with Joe Pass, and you kinda know how this is going to play out, no pun intended. If you have a jones for straight ahead no nonsense music, then this may be worth a listen.

Definitely a killer jazz record. Give it a chance, and you'll be irritating your friends about Ron Affif in a very short time. Why guys like Affif aren't more famous mystifies me."