Ron Affif
Encyclopedia
Ron Affif is an American jazz guitarist
(born on December 30, 1965 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
) of mixed Lebanese
and Italian
origin. He is the son of boxing welterweight and middleweight fighter Charley Zivic
who being a jazz fan initiated him in music. His mother is Marlene, sister of renowned jazz guitarist Ron Anthony.
Affif studied with Jerry Conderata and Joe Negri
before heading to the West Coast in 1983 to study under maternal uncle and musician Ron Anthony. While in Los Angeles he also took lessons from the jazz guitarist Joe Pass
. He moved to New York City in late 1989, and currently lives in Brooklyn.
In the late 1990s, he recorded five albums under the Fantasy record label, of which the best known is "52nd Street". In 1998, he formed the Ron Affif Trio alongside fellow musicians bassist Essiet Okon Essiet and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts.
Affif's style is reminiscent of Wes Montgomery
and George Benson
, and Benson once described Affif playing as his "favorite type of guitar player, one that plays with fire."
Jazz guitarist
Jazz guitarists are guitar players who play jazz music on the guitar using an approach to playing chords, melodies, and improvised solo lines which is called jazz guitar playing. The guitar has fulfilled the roles of accompanist and soloist in small and large ensembles and also as an unaccompanied...
(born on December 30, 1965 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
) of mixed Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
origin. He is the son of boxing welterweight and middleweight fighter Charley Zivic
Charley Zivic
Charley Zivic later known as Charley Affif, was a Lebanese American professional boxer from 1944 through 1951, with 42 wins, 13 losses, and 4 draws...
who being a jazz fan initiated him in music. His mother is Marlene, sister of renowned jazz guitarist Ron Anthony.
Affif studied with Jerry Conderata and Joe Negri
Joe Negri
Joseph Harold Negri is a jazz guitarist and educator from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During his years as Musical Director at WTAE-TV, he appeared on the former children's television show Paul Shannon's Adventure Time and other locally-produced shows on the station...
before heading to the West Coast in 1983 to study under maternal uncle and musician Ron Anthony. While in Los Angeles he also took lessons from the jazz guitarist Joe Pass
Joe Pass
Joe Pass was an Italian-American jazz guitarist of Sicilian descent. He is generally considered to be one of the greatest jazz guitarists of the 20th century...
. He moved to New York City in late 1989, and currently lives in Brooklyn.
In the late 1990s, he recorded five albums under the Fantasy record label, of which the best known is "52nd Street". In 1998, he formed the Ron Affif Trio alongside fellow musicians bassist Essiet Okon Essiet and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts.
Affif's style is reminiscent of Wes Montgomery
Wes Montgomery
John Leslie "Wes" Montgomery was an American jazz guitarist. He is widely considered one of the major jazz guitarists, emerging after such seminal figures as Django Reinhardt and Charlie Christian and influencing countless others, including Pat Martino, George Benson, Russell Malone, Emily...
and George Benson
George Benson
George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
, and Benson once described Affif playing as his "favorite type of guitar player, one that plays with fire."
Albums
- 1993: Ron Affif
- 1994: Vierd Blues
- 1996: 52nd Street
- 1998: Ringside
- 1999: Solotude