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Ben Riley

Benjamin Alexander Riley Jr. (July 17, 1933 – November 18, 2017) was a distinguished American jazz drummer celebrated for his collaborations with jazz legends such as Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk, and Alice Coltrane. Born in Savannah, Georgia, Riley relocated with his family to New York City at the tender age of four. His career flourished as he collaborated with a variety of prominent musicians, including Randy Weston, Sonny Stitt, Stan Getz, Junior Mance, and Kenny Burrell. Notably, he was part of the Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Johnny Griffin ensemble from 1960 to 1962 and joined Thelonious Monk's quartet from 1964 to 1967, solidifying his reputation in the jazz community.

Throughout his career, Riley worked with an impressive array of artists, including Ahmad Jamal, Billy Taylor, and Ray Bryant. From the 1970s into the 1980s, he was a key member of the New York Jazz Quartet and also performed with Sphere. His intermittent engagements with Alice Coltrane spanned from 1968 to 1975, and he frequently collaborated with pianist Abdullah Ibrahim.

Riley passed away at the age of 84 in West Islip, New York, on November 18, 2017, leaving behind a rich legacy in the world of jazz music and an indelible mark on his many collaborators and fans.

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