Ben Riley
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Drummer

A 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. 
 
Benjamin Riley
“...an excitingly responsive presence on drums with persistent unscripted commentary from the chattering Riley drumkit....Riley’s hip accents stood out.” -Geoff Chapman, TO Star
Ben Riley, Drummer
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 




Contact Ben!

Selected CD recordings:
Bruce Cockburn, You Pay Your Money And You Take Your Chance
Bruce Cockburn, Breakfast In New Orleans, Dinner In Timbuktu
Bruce Cockburn, Anything, Anytime, Anywhere--The Singles
Bruce Cockburn, You’ve Never Seen Everything
Bruce Cockburn, Speechless
Annick Gagnon, Annick!
Moe Koffman, Moe Koffman Project
Planet Earth, The Ali Shuffle (co-producer/composer)
Planet Earth, Elasticity (co-producer/composer)
Planet Earth, Twenty Miles From Buffalo (composer)
Planet Earth, Live at the Glenn Gould
Courtney Farquhar, All My Friends Are Superheroes (co-producer/composer)
Courtney Farquhar, Nowhere I’d Rather Be (co-producer/composer)
Sean Meredith-Jones, New Time
Sean Meredith-Jones, Turn Up The Good
Stephen Fearing, That’s How I Walk
Tim Tickner, Happy?
Bill Gilliam, Spirit Matter
Dylan Heming Sextet, unreleased
Roseanne Agassi, Home At Last
Nick Cuda, The Guitar In The Window
Nick Cuda, Matinna Di Cafe
Chung-oo Lee, Invitation To Romance
Kenny Driscoll, If You Believe In Me
Finkelmans 45’s, Live at the Montreal Bistro
Finkelmans 45’s, Duets
Ian Tyson, All The Good’uns
Annique Obonsawin, Broken Angel
Karen Kosowski, Out Here At Sea
Tamara Podemski, Tamara
Mike Janzen, Beginnings Live
Mike Janzen, Mombacho
Mike Janzen, Try To Remember
Molly Johnson, Lucky
Leyland Gordon Project, Time Dances
Senensky/Riley/Perla Trio, Trio Music
Bowfire, Live in Concert, (also on DVD)
Bowfire, Holiday Heart Strings (DVD)
Matt Dusk, Good News
Matt Dusk, Live From Las Vegas (DVD)
         

Content Copyright Ben Riley 2011
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