Ben Riley

This article is about the musician. For the British politician, see Ben Riley (MP). For the similarly named fictional character, see Ben Reilly.
Photo by Tom Marcello

Ben Riley (born July 17, 1933) is an American hard bop drummer known for his work with Thelonious Monk, as well as Alice Coltrane, Stan Getz, Woody Herman, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Ahmad Jamal, Kenny Barron, and as member of the group Sphere. During the 1970s he was a member of the New York Jazz Quartet.

In high school Riley played in the school band, and after graduation he joined the army, where he was a paratrooper, and also played with the army band. Upon leaving the army in 1954 he moved to New York, and in 1956 started playing jazz professionally. He played with such musicians as Randy Weston, Mary Lou Williams, Sonny Rollins, Woody Herman, Stan Getz, Billy Taylor, and Johnny Griffin. What made his name, however, and helped direct his career to success, were four years spent playing, touring, and recording with the great pianist, Thelonious Monk.

Ben Riley at Bach Dancing & Dynamite Society, Half Moon Bay CA 3/20/88. Trio w/Kenny Barron, p; Rufus Reid, b. Photo: Brian McMillen

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With Ron Carter

With Alice Coltrane

With Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis

With Bennie Green

With Johnny Griffin

With Michael Franks

With Andrew Hill

With Sam Jones

With Junior Mance

With Thelonious Monk

With Sonny Rollins

With Sphere

With Horace Tapscott

With Roseanna Vitro

References

  1. 1 2 3 Allmusic discography

External links

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