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About Ben Riley

282

Album Review

Ben Riley's Monk Legacy Septet: Memories of T

Read "Memories of T" reviewed by J Hunter

by J Hunter
October 30, 2006

Thelonious Monk's place in jazz is quite intact. In addition to the archival efforts of his son, drummer T.S. Monk, plenty of players have overcome the intimidation factor that goes with tackling Monk's singular sound. The issue is not whether Monk covers appear with the same frequency as covers of Ellington or Armstrong; rather, it is whether these attempts follow Monk's lead, taking the music outside the box. Memories of T--the debut disc by Ben Riley's Monk Legacy Septet--serves up ...

641

Rhythm In Every Guise

Ben Riley with Thelonious Monk

by David A. Orthmann
May 2, 2005

Ben Riley began his four-year association with Thelonious Monk on a moment's notice, joining the It's Monk's Time recording session devoid of any previous playing experience in Monk's quartet, or even the benefit of a single rehearsal.* Riley thus stepped into the drum chair of one of the greatest working jazz bands of the mid-1960s and made his mark without any apparent signs of adjustment or strain. Already an experienced professional, having played in the bands of luminaries such as ...

237

Album Review

Thelonious Monk: It's Monk's Time

Read "It's Monk's Time" reviewed by Jerry D'Souza

by Jerry D'Souza
October 6, 2003

The restoration campaign of the Monk catalog is as welcome as any such endeavor could be. Here is the opening of the doors to the music, the way it was and the way it transpired before it took the shape that first came out on record. Amendments have been made by restoring the edited portions, the prime factor that gives one the impetus to revisit the music. Add unreleased takes and remastered sound, and the lure is complete. ...

446

Album Review

Thelonious Monk: It's Monk's Time

Read "It's Monk's Time" reviewed by David Rickert

by David Rickert
August 25, 2003

It's Monk's Time is in many ways the least compromising of Monk's Columbia records and the polar opposite of a record like Criss Cross (1962) due to the variety ' lengthy renditions of tunes, a couple of solo performances, and a few obscure originals dusted off for the occasion. The session kicks off with what appears to be a solo recording of 'Lulu's Back in Town,' only to evolve from clunky stride into a full-blown quartet version after three minutes, ...