Benjamin Alexander Riley Jr. (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.

Biography[edit]

Ben Riley was born in the state of Georgia and at the age of four moved with his family to New York City.^[1] 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.^{[citation needed]}

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, were the four years spent playing, touring, and recording with the pianist Thelonious Monk.^{[citation needed]}

Ben Riley died in West Islip, New York, aged 84.^[2]

Discography[edit]

As leader[edit]

• 1996: Weaver of Dreams (Joken) ^[3]
• 2006: Memories of T (Concord) ^[3]
• 2012: Grown Folks Music (Sunnyside) ^[3]

As sideman[edit]

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2009)

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^[4]

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)

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• Ben Riley discography at Discogs
• Ben Riley on IMDb
• Ben Riley interview at All About Jazz