Ben Riley

Ben Riley (July 17, 1933 – November 18, 2017) was an American jazz 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. 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. Discography As leader 1996: Weaver of Dreams (Joken) 2006: Memories of T (Concord) 2012: Grown Folks Music (Sunnyside) As sideman 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 (Milestone, 1977) Peg Leg (Milestone, 1978) Pick 'Em (Milestone, 1978 [1980]) With Alice Coltrane A Monastic Trio (1968) Ptah, the El Daoud (1970) 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 Red Garland Stepping Out (Galaxy, 1978) So Long Blues (Galaxy, 1979 [1981]) Strike Up the Band (Galaxy, 1979 [1981]) With Bennie Green Glidin' Along (1961) With Johnny Griffin Battle Stations (Prestige, 1960) – with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Johnny Griffin’s Studio Jazz Party (Riverside, 1960) Tough Tenors (Jazzland, 1960) – with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Griff & Lock (Jazzland, 1960) – with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis The First Set (Prestige, 1961) – with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis The Tenor Scene (Prestige, 1961) – with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis The Late Show (Prestige, 1961) – with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis The Midnight Show (Prestige, 1961) – with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Lookin' at Monk! (Jazzland, 1961) – with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis Change of Pace (Riverside, 1961) Blues Up & Down (Jazzland, 1961) – with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis White Gardenia (Riverside, 1961) The Kerry Dancers (Riverside, 1961–62) Tough Tenor Favorites (Jazzland, 1962) – with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis With Michael Franks Tiger in the Rain With Andrew Hill Lift Every Voice (Blue Note, 1969) Shades (Soul Note, 1986) With Sam Jones Down Home (Riverside, 1962) With Junior Mance Junior Mance Trio at the Village Vanguard (Jazzland, 1961) With Ken McIntyre Year of the Iron Sheep (United Artists, 1962) With Thelonious Monk It's Monk's Time (1964) Monk (1964) Live at the It Club (1964) Straight, No Chaser (1967) Underground (1968) With Sonny Rollins What's New? (1962) The Bridge (1962) With Sphere Four in One (Elektra/Musician, 1982) Flight Path (Elektra/Musician, 1983) Sphere On Tour (Red, 1985) Pumpkin's Delight (Red, 1986 [1993]) Four for All (Verve, 1987) Bird Songs (1988) With Horace Tapscott Dissent or Descent (Nimbus West, 1984 [1998]) With Roseanna Vitro Listen Here (Texas Rose, 1984)
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