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 .
Great combined video with ben riley and alex barboutis from october 2015 Ben Riley was born in the state of Georgia and at the age of four moved with his family to New York City. In high school he 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 .
1996: Weaver of Dreams (Joken) 2006: Memories of T (Concord) 2012: Grown Folks Music (Sunnyside) With Chet Baker As Time Goes By (Timeless, 1986)Cool Cat (Timeless, 1986 [1989])
With Bill Barron
Variations in Blue (Muse , 1983)Live at Cobi's 2 (SteepleChase, 1885 [2006])The Next Plateau (Muse, 1987 [1989])Live at Cobi's (SteepleChase, 1988-89 [2005])With Kenny Barron
Innocence (Wolf, 1978)Golden Lotus (Muse, 1980 [1982])Imo Live (Whynot, 1982)Green Chimneys (Criss Cross Jazz, 1983)The Only One (Reservoir, 1990)Lemuria-Seascape (Candid, 1991)Live at Bradley's (EmArcy, 1996 [2001])Live at Bradley's II (Sunnyside, 1996 [2002])Minor Blues (Venus, 2009)With Ted Brown
In Good Company (Criss Cross, 1985) with Jimmy Raney With Ray Bryant
Live at Basin Street East (Sue, 1964)Cold Turkey (Sue, 1964)
With Kenny Burrell
Listen to the Dawn (Muse, 1980 [1983])Groovin' High (Muse, 1981 [1984])With Ron Carter
Yellow & Green (CTI, 1976)Piccolo Peg Leg
With Alice Coltrane
A Monastic Trio Ptah, the El Daoud With Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
Afro-Jaws (Riverside, 1960)With Ricky Ford
Manhattan Blues (Candid, 1989)Ebony Rhapsody (Candid, 1990)American-African Blues (Candid, 1991)With Bennie Green
Glidin' Along With Johnny Griffin
Battle Stations Johnny Griffin ’s Studio Jazz PartyTough Tenors Griff & Lock (Jazzland, 1960) – with Eddie "Lockjaw" DavisThe First Set The Tenor Scene The Late Show (Prestige, 1961) – with Eddie "Lockjaw" DavisThe Midnight Show Lookin' at Monk ! (Jazzland, 1961) – with Eddie "Lockjaw" DavisChange of Pace Blues Up & Down (Jazzland, 1961) – with Eddie "Lockjaw" DavisWhite Gardenia The Kerry Dancers Tough Tenor Favorites
With Michael Franks
Tiger in the Rain With Andrew Hill
Lift Every Voice Shades With Sam Jones
Down Home With Junior Mance
Junior Mance Trio at the Village VanguardWith Ken McIntyre
Year of the Iron Sheep (United Artists, 1962)
With Thelonious Monk
It's Monk's Time Monk (1964)Live at the It Club Straight, No Chaser Underground With Sonny Rollins
What's New? (1962)The Bridge With Sphere
Four in One (Elektra/Musician, 1982)Flight Path (Elektra/Musician, 1983)Sphere On TourPumpkin's Delight (Red, 1986 [1993])Four for All (Verve, 1987)Bird Songs (1988)With Horace Tapscott
Dissent or Descent With Roseanna Vitro
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