Ben Riley



Ben Riley (born 17 July 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.

As leader

 * 1996: Weaver of Dreams (Joken)
 * 2006: Memories of T (Concord)
 * 2012: Grown Folks Music (Sunnyside)

As sideman
With Ron Carter 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 Alice Coltrane With Sphere
 * Yellow & Green (CTI, 1976)
 * Peg Leg (1978)
 * Afro-Jaws (Riverside, 1960)
 * Glidin' Along (1961)
 * 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
 * Tiger in the Rain
 * Lift Every Voice (Blue Note, 1969)
 * Shades (Soul Note, 1986)
 * Down Home (Riverside, 1962)
 * Junior Mance Trio at the Village Vanguard (Jazzland, 1961)
 * It's Monk's Time (1964)
 * Monk (1964)
 * Live at the It Club (1964)
 * Straight, No Chaser (1967)
 * Underground (1968)
 * What's New? (1962)
 * The Bridge (1962)
 * A Monastic Trio (1968)
 * Bird Songs (1988)