Ben Riley
Encyclopedia
Ben Riley 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.
With Bennie Green
With Michael Franks
With Andrew Hill
With Thelonious Monk
With Sonny Rollins
With Alice Coltrane
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hard bop
Hard bop
Hard bop is a style of jazz that is an extension of bebop music. Journalists and record companies began using the term in the mid-1950s to describe a new current within jazz which incorporated influences from rhythm and blues, gospel music, and blues, especially in the saxophone and piano...
drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
known for his work with Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer considered "one of the giants of American music". Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "Epistrophy", "'Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Chaser"...
, as well as Alice Coltrane
Alice Coltrane
Alice Coltrane, née McLeod was an American jazz pianist, organist, harpist, and composer.-Biography:...
, Stan Getz
Stan Getz
Stanley Getz was an American jazz saxophone player. Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre of his idol, Lester Young. Coming to prominence in the late 1940s with Woody Herman's big band, Getz is described by critic Scott...
, Woody Herman
Woody Herman
Woodrow Charles Herman , known as Woody Herman, was an American jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading various groups called "The Herd," Herman was one of the most popular of the 1930s and '40s bandleaders...
, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Ahmad Jamal
Ahmad Jamal
Ahmad Jamal is an innovative and influential American jazz pianist, composer, and educator. According to Stanley Crouch, Jamal is second in importance in the development of jazz after 1945 only to Charlie Parker...
, Kenny Barron
Kenny Barron
Kenny Barron , is an American jazz pianist. He is the younger brother of tenor saxophonist Bill Barron, and known for his lyrical, adaptive style.-Biography:...
, and as member of the group Sphere
Sphere (band)
Sphere were an American jazz ensemble which began as a tribute to Thelonious Monk. Consisting of Monk's longtime tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse, pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Buster Williams, and Monk's former drummer Ben Riley, saxophonist Gary Bartz assumed Rouse's place after his death in...
. During the 1970s he was a member of the New York Jazz Quartet
New York Jazz Quartet
The New York Jazz Quartet was founded by pianist Roland Hanna. First consisting of flautist Hubert Laws, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Billy Cobham, in 1974 the lineup changed to Frank Wess, bassist George Mraz, and drummer Ben Riley. Richie Pratt and Grady Tate also contributed. The group...
.
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
Randy Weston
Randy Weston , is an American jazz pianist and composer, of Jamaican parentage.-Biography:Weston studied classical piano as a child. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, he ran a restaurant that was frequented by many of the leading bebop musicians...
, Mary Lou Williams
Mary Lou Williams
Mary Lou Williams was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. Williams wrote hundreds of compositions and arrangements, and recorded more than one hundred records...
, Sonny Rollins, Woody Herman, Stan Getz, Billy Taylor, and Johnny Griffin
Johnny Griffin
John Arnold Griffin III was an American bop and hard bop tenor saxophonist.- Early life and career :Griffin studied music at DuSable High School in Chicago under Walter Dyett, starting out on clarinet before moving on to oboe and then alto sax...
. 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 sideman
With Ron CarterRon Carter
Ron Carter is an American jazz double-bassist. His appearances on over 2,500 albums make him one of the most-recorded bassists in jazz history, along with Milt Hinton, Ray Brown and Leroy Vinnegar. Carter is also an acclaimed cellist who has recorded numerous times on that...
- Peg LegPeg Leg (album)Peg Leg is an album by jazz bassist Ron Carter, originally released on LP in 1978, digitally remastered and released on CD in 1991 by Fantasy Studios.It was recorded in November 1977 and prominently features Carter on piccolo bass...
(1978)
With Bennie Green
Bennie Green
Bennie Green was an American jazz trombonist.Born in Chicago, Illinois, Green worked in the orchestras of Earl Hines and Charlie Ventura, and recorded as bandleader through the 1950s and 1960s.-As leader:...
- Glidin' AlongGlidin' AlongGlidin' Along is an album by American trombonist Bennie Green recorded in 1961 and released on the Jazzland label.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 3 stars.-Track listing:# "African Dream" - 5:45# "Sweet Sucker" - 8:00...
(1961)
With Michael Franks
- "Tiger In The Rain"
With Andrew Hill
Andrew Hill
Andrew Hill was an American jazz pianist and composer.Hill is recognized as one of the most important innovators of jazz piano in the 1960s...
- Lift Every VoiceLift Every Voice (Andrew Hill album)Lift Every Voice is an album by American jazz pianist Andrew Hill featuring performances recorded in 1969 and released on the Blue Note label in 1970. The original album features Hill with a large choir performing five original compositions and the 2001 CD reissue added six additional compositions...
(1969) - ShadesShades (Andrew Hill album)Shades is an album by American jazz pianist Andrew Hill recorded in 1986 and released on the Italian Soul Note label in 1988. The album features six of Hill's original compositions, four performed by a quartet and two by a trio.-Reception:...
(1986)
With Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz pianist and composer considered "one of the giants of American music". Monk had a unique improvisational style and made numerous contributions to the standard jazz repertoire, including "Epistrophy", "'Round Midnight", "Blue Monk", "Straight, No Chaser"...
- It's Monk's TimeIt's Monk's TimeIt's Monk's Time is the sixth album Thelonious Monk released in 1964 for Columbia Records, featuring three original compositions as well as two jazz standards.-Tracklisting:#"Lulu's Back In Town" – 9:55...
(1964) - Monk (1964)
- "Live at the It ClubLive at the It ClubLive at the It Club is the ninth album Thelonious Monk released for Columbia Records. Recorded October 31, and November 1, 1964, the album features Monk compositions as well jazz standards....
" (1964) - Straight, No Chaser (1967)
- UndergroundUnderground (Thelonious Monk album)Underground is a 1968 album by Thelonious Monk. It features Monk on piano, Larry Gales on bass, Charlie Rouse on tenor sax, and Ben Riley on drums....
(1968)
With Sonny Rollins
Sonny Rollins
Theodore Walter "Sonny" Rollins is a Grammy-winning American jazz tenor saxophonist. Rollins is widely recognized as one of the most important and influential jazz musicians. A number of his compositions, including "St...
- What's New?What's New? (album)What's New? is an album by jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins, his second recorded for the RCA Victor label, featuring performances by Rollins with Jim Hall, Bob Cranshaw, Ben Riley, Dennis Charles, Frank Charles, Willie Rodriguez and Candido.-Reception:...
(1962) - The BridgeThe Bridge (Sonny Rollins album)The Bridge, 1962, was the first release of Jazz giant Sonny Rollins following his unexpected early retirement in 1959. The saxophonist was joined for the first time with the musicians with which he would record for the next segment of his career, featuring Jim Hall on guitar, Bob Cranshaw on bass...
(1962)
With Alice Coltrane
Alice Coltrane
Alice Coltrane, née McLeod was an American jazz pianist, organist, harpist, and composer.-Biography:...
- A Monastic TrioA Monastic TrioA Monastic Trio is the first solo album by Alice Coltrane. Recorded in 1968 , she intended it to be a tribute to her husband, John Coltrane, who had died the year before.-Reception:...
(1968)
External links
- Ben Riley — Drummerworld
- Interview with Ben Riley — by Don Williams for All About Jazz
- http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1099263/a/Tiger+In+The+Rain.htm