Jazz drumming great Ben Riley died last November 18. He was eighty-four. Although best remembered for his high-profile 1964–67 tenure with the iconic pianist Thelonious Monk, Riley enjoyed a fruitful six-decade career supporting a lengthy roster of jazz luminaries, including lasting associations with Alice Coltrane, Abdullah Ibrahim, the tenor team of Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis and Johnny Griffin, the New York Jazz Quartet, bassist Ron Carter, and pianist Kenny Barron.
