Ben Riley

Benjamin Alexander Riley Jr. was an American jazz drummer known primarily for his work with Sonny Rollins and Thelonious Monk. Riley worked with a number of other musicians throughout his prolific career as a sideman, such as Alice Coltrane, Stan Getz, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, and Ahmad Jamal. Riley was also a member of the group Sphere, and during the 1970s and 1980s, he was a member of the New York Jazz Quartet.

Biography

Benjamin Alexander Riley Jr. was born in Savannah, Georgia, on July 17, 1933, and at the age of four moved with his family to New York City.
Riley performed with Sonny Rollins, Randy Weston, Sonny Stitt, Stan Getz, Junior Mance, Kenny Burrell, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis–Johnny Griffin, Ahmad Jamal, Billy Taylor, and Ray Bryant. He then spent 1964 to 1967 in Thelonious Monk's quartet. After Monk, he played with Alice Coltrane, Ron Carter, and Jim Hall, as well as with the New York Jazz Quartet and the band Sphere. He also played frequently with pianist Abdullah Ibrahim.
Riley died of lung disease and complications of diabetes in West Islip, New York on November 18, 2017 at the age of 84.

Discography

As leader

Weaver of Dreams – recorded in 1993Memories of T

''Grown Folks Music''

As sideman

With Noah Baerman

Patch Kit with Ron Carter

With Chet Baker

As Time Goes By
Cool Cat

With Bill Barron

With Kenny Barron

With Gary Bartz

Episode One: Children of Harlem

With Ted Brown

In Good Company with Jimmy Raney

With Ray Bryant

With Kenny Burrell

With Ron CarterYellow & Green Piccolo Peg Leg Pick 'Em
With Alice ColtraneA Monastic Trio Ptah, the El Daoud World Galaxy Lord of Lords Live at the Berkeley Community Theater 1972
With Eddie "Lockjaw" DavisAfro-Jaws
With Ricky FordManhattan Blues Ebony Rhapsody American-African Blues
With Red GarlandStepping Out So Long Blues Strike Up the Band
With Benny GolsonTime Speaks with Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw
With Bennie GreenGlidin' Along
With Johnny GriffinBattle Stations – with Eddie "Lockjaw" DavisJohnny Griffin’s Studio Jazz Party Tough Tenors – with Eddie "Lockjaw" DavisGriff & Lock – with Eddie "Lockjaw" DavisThe First Set – with Eddie "Lockjaw" DavisThe Tenor Scene – with Eddie "Lockjaw" DavisThe Late Show – with Eddie "Lockjaw" DavisThe Midnight Show – with Eddie "Lockjaw" DavisLookin' at Monk! – with Eddie "Lockjaw" DavisChange of Pace Blues Up & Down – with Eddie "Lockjaw" DavisWhite Gardenia The Kerry Dancers Tough Tenor Favorites – with Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
With Michael FranksTiger in the Rain
With Andrew HillLift Every Voice Shades
With Andrew Hill Eternal Spirit 1989 Blue Note Records
With Hank JonesBop Redux

The Great Jazz Trio, What's New

With Sam JonesDown Home
With Junior ManceJunior Mance [Trio at the Village Vanguard]
With Ken McIntyreYear of the Iron Sheep
With Jay McShann

Some Blues

With Thelonious MonkIt's Monk's Time Monk Live at the It Club Straight, No Chaser Underground
With Mark MurphyOne for Junior
With Freddie Redd

Lonely City

With Sonny RollinsThe Bridge What's New?
With Dan RoseFountains
With Charlie RouseMoment's Notice
With Jack Sheldon

Playing for Change

With Sphere

With Jeremy Steig

Flute Fever

With Horace TapscottDissent or Descent
With Roseanna VitroListen Here
With Larry Willis

''A Tribute to Someone''