DrummerA graduate of York University (Honours BFA), Ben Riley has been actively engaged in the Canadian music scene for over fifteen years. He has played alongside many luminaries such as Bruce Cockburn, Holly Cole, Michael Burgess, Molly Johnson, Joe Sealy, Doug Riley, Jake Langley, NOJO, Marc Jordan, Amy Sky, Moe Koffman, Domenic Troiano, Joshua Nelson (gospel singer/ Oprah Winfrey guest), Matt Dusk, Wynton Marsalis and Gary Burton among others.
Ben has toured extensively throughout Canada, Europe, the U.S., China and Japan with many highly acclaimed acts including Michael Kaeshammer, Bruce Cockburn, Bowfire, Sophie Milman and Matt Dusk. He has played on countless albums and hundreds of commercials, as well as music for film and TV. |
|
 Live at the Glenn Gould |
Ben co-leads an original soul/R&B project in Toronto, Planet Earth, which has opened for Maceo Parker as well as for the Toronto International Film Festival. “....Ben drove the beat on drums while accomplishing what many drummers never do, providing a consistent and appropriate percussive presence by reading the strength and mood of the ensemble in each piece.” -Marjie Smith, Stage Left |
|
Selected TV commercials: Kodak, Purolator Courier, Molson Canadian, Budweiser, Labatt Blue, Coors Lite, Kraft Cheese, Chevrolet, Blacks, Nicorets, Head & Shoulders, Pontiac, Black & Decker, The Beer Store, Miller Genuine Draft, Lipton, Trident, Shopper’s Drug Mart, Mazda, Labatt Ice, UPS, GMC, Molson Ex, Becel, Nicoderm, Allegra, Dodge Ram, Chrysler Selected performance highlights: Tours of Canada/U.S. with Bowfire – 2006-2010 Performance (and upcoming tour) with Gene Perla, acclaimed NY jazz bassist (Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins) – 2009/2010 Toronto Jazz Festival with Planet Earth – 2009 Tours of US with Matt Dusk – 2006-2009 P.E.I. Jazz Festival with Planet Earth -- 2008 Burlington Jazz/Blues Festival – 2003-2009 Tour of China with Bowfire – 2007 Tours of Canada with Michael Burgess – 1997-2007 Atlantic Jazz Festival with Doug Riley – 2005, 2006, 2007 Atlantic Jazz Festival with Holly Cole – 2008 CBC radio show at La Maison De La Culture Frontenac with Doug Riley – 2006 SOCAN Awards (backing up such artists as Sarah Slean, Jimmy Rankin, Willie Nelson) – 2006 Tour of China with Dadawa – 2006 Massey Hall with Danny Finkelman (Finkelman’s 45s) – 2005 Kingston Jazz Festival with Doug Riley/Lorne Lofsky – 2005 Week at the Montreal Bistro (Toronto) with Doug Riley – 2004, 2005 Blue Note, New York with Michael Kaeshammer – 2003, 2004 Tours of U.S., Canada and Europe with Bruce Cockburn – 1997, 2000, 2003 Tour of China with George Gao – 2002 Late Night Show (David Letterman) with Bruce Cockburn – 2000 Toronto Millenium concert with Bruce Cockburn – 2000 Tour of Europe with Holly Cole – 2001 Toronto (DuMaurier) Jazz Festival with Moe Koffman – 2001 Massey Hall with Molly Johnson, opening for B.B. King – 1999 The Guverment with Planet Earth, opening for Maceo Parker – 1999 Toronto International Film Festival with Planet Earth – 1998, 1999 Tour of Canada with Joe Sealy – 2008 |
|