JazzCorner salutes drummer Ben Riley on his 81st birthday. Ben made his record- ing debut in 1961 with Johnny Griffin. In his nearly 50 years on the scene, Bens drumming has had a subtle quality that is unmatched. His sparse, sometimes jagged, and comedic drumming can be traced to his one-time employer Thelonious Monk, whose Live At The It Club shows Ben in high form. Riley made many recordings and circled the globe several times with the legendary bandleader. Pianists love playing with Ben Riley. His off-kilter rhythmic vocabulary is featured on Eternal Spirit, and Shades,îwith pianist Andrew Hill. The list of great pianists that have called on Rileys accompaniment is almost endless: Ahmad Jamal, Billy Taylor, Alice Coltrane, Abdullah Ibrahim, Hank Jones, Roland Hanna, Red Garland, and Larry Willis are just the beginning of the piano players who have dialed Bens number. But it is Ben Rileys telepathic relationship with pianist Kenny Barron that is extra special. It is with the collective band Sphere that Barron and Riley (along with Charlie Rouse and Buster Williams) have played for many years. They have many recordings under their belt as a band, with Four For All and On Tour being standouts. You can also hear the rhythm section of Riley and Barron (with bassist Ray Drummond) offer first-class support of Stan Getz on Yours and Mine and Eddie Harris on There Was a Time, Echo Of Harlem. It is not only pianists that desire Bens perfect support. In fact, it was a piano-less recording on which Ben participated that became a renowned jazz classic. Sonny Rollins The Bridge is Riley at his understated peak. He supports the very different soloists Sonny Rollins and Jim Hall with splendor and extreme taste. The Bridge captures Bens specialty of burning high on a low flame. That being said, Riley can also turn it up with the best of them. Sphere - Well You Neednt Kenny Barron - piano Ben Riley - drums Buster Williams - bass Charlie Rouse - saxophone
Posted on: Thu, 17 Jul 2014 04:59:10 +0000
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