John Bernard Riley
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

John Bernard Riley (born June 11, 1954) is an American jazz drummer and educator. He has performed with
Woody Herman Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roo ...
,
Stan Getz Stan Getz (born Stanley Gayetski; February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist. Playing primarily the tenor saxophone, Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, with his prime influence being the wis ...
,
Milt Jackson Milton Jackson (January 1, 1923 – October 9, 1999), nicknamed "Bags", was an American jazz vibraphonist. He is especially remembered for his cool swinging solos as a member of the Modern Jazz Quartet and his penchant for collaborating with ...
,
Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th century music, 20th-century music. Davis ado ...
,
Dizzy Gillespie John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie ( ; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improvisation, improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy El ...
,
John Scofield John Scofield (born December 26, 1951) is an American guitarist and composer. His music over a long career has blended jazz, jazz fusion, funk, blues, soul and rock. He first came to mainstream attention as part of the band of Miles Davis; he ...
,
Bob Mintzer Robert Alan Mintzer (born January 27, 1953) is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, and big band leader. Early life Mintzer was born and raised in a Jewish family in New Rochelle, New York, on January 27, 1953. He attended the Inte ...
,
Gary Peacock Gary George Peacock (May 12, 1935September 4, 2020) was an American jazz double bassist. He recorded a dozen albums under his own name, and also performed and recorded with major jazz figures such as avant garde saxophonist Albert Ayler, piani ...
,
Mike Stern Mike Stern (born January 10, 1953) is an American jazz guitarist. After playing with Blood, Sweat & Tears, he worked with drummer Billy Cobham, then with trumpeter Miles Davis from 1981 to 1983 and again in 1985. He then began a solo career, re ...
,
Joe Lovano Joseph Salvatore Lovano (born December 29, 1952)"Joe Lovano." ''Contemporary Musicians''. Vol. 13. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 1994. Retrieved via ''Biography in Context'' database, May 5, 2017. is an American jazz multi-instrumentalist. T ...
,
Franck Amsallem Franck Amsallem is a French-American jazz pianist, arranger, composer, singer and educator. He was born in 1961 in Oran, French Algeria, but grew up in Nice, France. Early years Amsallem was born in Oran (Algeria) to Elie Amsallem (1922-2019) an ...
, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band,
John Patitucci John Patitucci (born December 22, 1959) is an American jazz bassist and composer. Biography John James Patitucci was born in Brooklyn, New York. He began playing the electric bass at age 10, performing and composing at age 12, and at age 15, s ...
, and
Bob Berg Robert Berg (April 7, 1951 – December 5, 2002) was an American jazz saxophonist. Biography Berg was born in Brooklyn, New York. Berg started his musical education at the age of six when he began studying classical piano. He began playing ...
.


Life

Riley began playing drums at age eight, after receiving a snare drum as a gift. In the biographies provided to the media, Riley acknowledges the early support of his parents, John and Mary Ann. While attending fourth grade in
Scotch Plains, New Jersey Scotch Plains is a Township (New Jersey), township in Union County, New Jersey, Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The township is located on a ridge in North Jersey, northern-central Jersey, central New Jersey, within the Raritan R ...
, Riley began studying percussion privately with Thomas Sicola, Jr. (b. Mar. 1944), who, at that time, was a recent graduate of the
New York College of Music The New York College of Music was an American conservatory of music located in Manhattan that flourished from 1878 to 1968. The college was incorporated under the laws of New York and was empowered to confer diplomas and degrees ranging from a ...
(
bachelor of music A Bachelor of Music (BMus; sometimes conferred as Bachelor of Musical Arts) is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of a program of study in music. The degree may be awarded for performance, music ed ...
) and a music teacher in the nearby Cranford Township Public Schools. Riley studied music at the
University of North Texas College of Music The University of North Texas College of Music, based in Denton, is a comprehensive music school among the largest enrollment of any music institution accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music. It developed the first jazz studies ...
, where he was introduced to a larger world of music and percussion. While there, he played, toured, and recorded ''Lab 76'' with the One O'Clock Lab Band. ''Lab 76'' was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Jazz Performance by a Big Band." Jazz drummer Paul Guerrero had been one of his influential teachers at North Texas.
What Do You Know About...? Paul Guerrero
,'' by Victor Rendón, ''
Modern Drummer ''Modern Drummer'' is a monthly publication targeting the interests of drummers and percussionists. The magazine features interviews, equipment reviews, columns offering advice on technique, and information for the general public. ''Modern Dru ...
,'' December 1, 2011


Discography

With
Bob Mintzer Robert Alan Mintzer (born January 27, 1953) is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, and big band leader. Early life Mintzer was born and raised in a Jewish family in New Rochelle, New York, on January 27, 1953. He attended the Inte ...
* ''Spectrum'' ( DMP, 1987) * ''Techno Pop'' (Jazz Door, 1987) * ''Art of the Big Band'' (DMP, 1991) * ''Departure'' (DMP, 1993) * ''Only in New York'' (DMP, 1994) * ''The First Decade'' (DMP, 1995) * ''Big Band Trane'' (DMP, 1996) * ''Latin from Manhattan'' (DMP, 1998) * ''
Homage to Count Basie ''Homage to Count Basie'' is an album by the Bob Mintzer Big Band that won the Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album in 2002. Track listing Personnel * Bob Mintzer Robert Alan Mintzer (born January 27, 1953) is an American jazz s ...
'' (DMP, 2000) * ''Live at MCG'' ( MCG Jazz, 2004) * ''Old School, New Lessons'' (MCG Jazz, 2006) With Bobby Paunetto * ''Composer in Public'' (RSVP, 1996) * ''Reconstituted'' (RSVP, 2000) With DMP Big Band * ''Carved in Stone'' (DMP, 1995) * ''DMP Big Band Salutes Duke Ellington'' (DMP, 1997) With Eijiro Nakagawa and
Jim Pugh Jim Pugh (born February 5, 1964) is a former professional tennis player from the United States. He grew up in Palos Verdes, California and at age 10 began taking tennis lessons from John Hillebrand. He played tennis at UCLA. He became a doub ...
* ''Legend and Lion'' (Superkids, 2003) * ''E2'n J2'' (TNC, 2005) With
George Gruntz George Gruntz (24 June 1932 – 10 January 2013) was a Swiss jazz pianist, organist, harpsichordist, keyboardist, and composer known for the George Gruntz Concert Big Band and his work with Phil Woods, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Don Cherry, Chet Baker ...
* ''Liebermann Live in Berlin'' (TCB, 1999) * ''Merryteria'' (TCB, 1999) * ''Expo Triangle'' (MGB, 2000) * ''News Reel Matters'' (2015) With Hubert Nuss * ''The Shimmering Colours of Stained Glass'', (GreenHouse, 1997) * ''The Underwater Poet'' (Greenhouse, 2002) * ''Feed the Birds'' (Pirouet, 2005) With
Luis Bonilla Luis Diego Bonilla (October 12, 1965) is an American jazz trombonist of Costa Rican descent. He is also a producer, composer, and educator. Biography Early life, musical education and influences Luis Bonilla was born and raised in Eagle Rock, ...
* ''I Talking Now'' ( Planet Arts, 2009) * ''Twilight'' (Planet Arts) With
Mike Metheny Mike Metheny ( ; born August 28, 1949) is an American jazz musician and music journalist. He is the older brother of the jazz guitarist Pat Metheny. Mike Metheny studied music education at the University of Missouri School of Music and Northe ...
* ''Blue Jay Sessions'' (Headfirst, 1981) * ''Kaleidoscope'' ( MCA, 1988) With Vanguard Jazz Orchestra * ''Lickety Split'' (
New World The term "New World" is used to describe the majority of lands of Earth's Western Hemisphere, particularly the Americas, and sometimes Oceania."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: ...
, 1997) * ''Thad Jones Legacy'' (New World, 1999) * ''Can I Persuade You?'' (Planet Arts, 2001) * ''The Way'', (Planet Arts, 2004) * ''Up from the Skies'' (Planet Arts, 2006) * '' Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard'' (Planet Arts, 2008) * ''Forever Lasting, Live in Tokyo'' (Planet Arts, 2010) With others *
University of North Texas The University of North Texas (UNT) is a public university, public research university located in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. Its main campus is in Denton, Texas, Denton, with a satellite campus in Frisco, Texas, Frisco. It serves as the ...
: ''Lab 76'' (UNT Jazz, 1976) *
Woody Herman Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roo ...
: ''The Woody Herman Orchestra'' (JazzDoor, 1978) * Harris Simon Group, ''Swish'' (
East Wind An east wind is a wind that originates in the east and blows in a westward direction. This wind is referenced as symbolism in culture, mythology, poetry, and literature. In culture and mythology In Islam, the east wind Saba holds religious signi ...
, 1980) * Richard Boukas: ''Embarcadero'' (Jazz Essence, 1983) * Richard Lacona: ''Painter of Dreams'' (Morningside, 1984) * Mike Carubia: ''Renaissance'' (KamaDisc, 1985) * Greg Hyslop: ''Manhattan Date'' (Slope, 1986) * Richard Lacona (The Bad Little Big Band): ''A Long Way To Go'' (Morningside, 1986) * Mark Soskin: ''Overjoyed'' (JazzCity, 1987) *
Red Rodney Robert Roland Chudnick (September 27, 1927 – May 27, 1994), known professionally as Red Rodney, was an American jazz trumpeter. Biography Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he became a professional musician at 15, working in the mid-1940 ...
Quintet: ''Red Snapper and One for Bird'' (
SteepleChase SteepleChase Records is a jazz record company and label based in Copenhagen, Denmark. SteepleChase was founded in 1972 by Nils Winther, who was a student at Copenhagen University at the time. He began recording concerts at Jazzhus Montmartre, ...
, 1988) * Haze Greenfield: ''Five for the City'' (Owl Time Line, 1989) *
John Scofield John Scofield (born December 26, 1951) is an American guitarist and composer. His music over a long career has blended jazz, jazz fusion, funk, blues, soul and rock. He first came to mainstream attention as part of the band of Miles Davis; he ...
: ''Live Three Ways'' (Blue Note Video, 1990) *
Kenny Werner Kenny Werner (born November 19, 1951) is an American jazz pianist, composer, and author. Early life Born in Brooklyn, New York, on November 19, 1951, and then growing up in Oceanside, Long Island, Werner began playing and performing at a young ...
: ''Uncovered Heart'' ( Sunnyside, 1990) * John Hart: ''One Down'' (
Blue Note Blue Note Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group and operated under Capitol Music Group. Established in 1939 by German-Jewish emigrants Alfred Lion and Max Margulis, it derived its name from the blue no ...
, 1990) *
Miles Davis Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th century music, 20th-century music. Davis ado ...
and
Quincy Jones Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (March 14, 1933 – November 3, 2024) was an American record producer, composer, arranger, conductor, trumpeter, and bandleader. Over the course of his seven-decade career, he received List of awards and nominations re ...
: ''Miles and Quincy Live at Montreux'' (
Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (WBEI), commonly known as Warner Bros. (WB), is an American filmed entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California and the main namesake subsidiary of Warner Bro ...
, 1991) * Bruce Williamson: ''Big City Magic'' Timeless, 1993) * John Serry: ''Enchantress'' (
Telarc Telarc International Corporation is an American audiophile independent record label founded in 1977 by two classically trained musicians and former teachers, Jack Renner and Robert Woods. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, the label has had a long assoc ...
, 1995) * Claudio Angeleri: ''Jazz Files'' (CDPM-Lion, 1996) * Joseph Allessi: ''New York Legends'' (Cala, 1996) *
Lalo Schifrin Boris Claudio "Lalo" Schifrin (born June 21, 1932) is an Argentine-American pianist, composer, arranger, and conductor. He is best known for his large body of film and TV scores since the 1950s, incorporating jazz and Music of Latin America, Lati ...
: ''Gillespiana'' (Aleph, 1996) * Shigeko Suzuki: ''Brisa'' ( BMG, 1996) * Sigurdur Flosason: ''Sounds from Afar'' (Jazziz, 1996) *
Vince Mendoza Vince Mendoza (born November 17, 1961) is an American composer, music arranger and conductor. He debuted as a solo artist in 1989, and is known for his work conducting the Metropole Orkest and WDR Big Band Köln, as well as arranging music f ...
and the
WDR Big Band WDR Big Band is the jazz big band of German public broadcaster Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) in Cologne, Germany. History Origins After World War II, the ''Kölner Rundfunk-Tanzorchester'' (''Cologne Radio Dance Orchestra'') was active from ...
(de): ''Flame'' (Carlton, 1996) * Michael Davis: ''Brass Nation'' (Hip-Bone, 2000) * Ludwig Nuss: ''Ups and Downs'' (Mons, 2003) *
Todd Coolman Todd Coolman (born July 14, 1954) is a jazz double bass, bassist and a retired tenured Professor of Music at the Jazz Studies Program in the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College in Westchester County, New York. He is currently the Artistic Di ...
: ''Perfect Strangers'' (
ArtistShare ArtistShare is the internet's first commercial crowdfunding website.Crowd-Funding 101: What Every Musician Needs for a Successful Campaign It also operates as a record label and business model for artists which enables them to fund their proje ...
, 2008) *
Randy Sandke Jay Randall Sandke (born May 5, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois) is a jazz trumpeter and guitarist. While a student at Indiana University in 1968, he and Michael Brecker started a jazz-rock band (Mrs. Seamon's Sound Band) that performed at the Notre D ...
: ''Jazz for Juniors'' ( Arbors, 2009) * Steve Hobbs: ''Vibes, Straight Up'' ( Challenge, 2009) * Daniel Jamieson's Danjam Orchestra: ''Sudden Appearance,'' (
Origin Origin(s) or The Origin may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Comics and manga * ''Origin'' (comics), a Wolverine comic book mini-series published by Marvel Comics in 2002 * ''The Origin'' (Buffy comic), a 1999 ''Buffy the Vampire Sl ...
, 2010) * John Hyde Quartet: ''John Hyde Quartet'' (Death Defying, 2010) * Nicolas Folmer: ''Off the Beaten Tracks,'' Vol. 1 (PID, 2010) * Pavel Wlosok, Mike McGuirk, John Riley aka Wlosok/McGuirk/Riley Trio: ''Jubilee Suite: Live at the Grey Eagle'', New Port Line,
Prague Prague ( ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in the Czech Republic, largest city of the Czech Republic and the historical capital of Bohemia. Prague, located on the Vltava River, has a population of about 1.4 million, while its P ...
(2012) * Ralf Buschmeyer: ''Jazz Speak'' (2012) *
Dick Oatts Richard Dennis Oatts (born April 2, 1953) is an American jazz saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and educator. Biography While growing up in Des Moines, Iowa, Oatts gained an interest in music from his father, Jack Oatts, who was a sa ...
/ Mats Holmquist (sv) New York Jazz Orchestra: ''A Tribute to Herbie +1'' (
Summit A summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. The topographic terms acme, apex, peak (mountain peak), and zenith are synonymous. The term (mountain top) is generally used only for ...
2015)


DVD

*
John Scofield John Scofield (born December 26, 1951) is an American guitarist and composer. His music over a long career has blended jazz, jazz fusion, funk, blues, soul and rock. He first came to mainstream attention as part of the band of Miles Davis; he ...
: ''Live Three Ways'', Blue Note, 2005 *
David Liebman David Liebman (born September 4, 1946) is an American saxophonist, flautist and jazz educator. He is known for his innovative lines and use of atonality. He was a frequent collaborator with pianist Richie Beirach. In June 2010, he received a ...
: ''Teaches and Plays'',
Jamey Aebersold Wilton Jameson "Jamey" Aebersold (born July 21, 1939) is an American publisher, educator, and jazz saxophonist. His Play-A-Long series of instructional books and CDs, using the chord-scale system, the first of which was released in 1967, are an i ...
Jazz, 2005 * John Riley: ''The Master Drummer How to Play Practice and Think like a Pro'', Alfred Music, 2009


Academic positions

* Faculty,
Manhattan School of Music The Manhattan School of Music (MSM) is a private music conservatory A music school is an educational institution specialized in the study, training, and research of music. Such an institution can also be known as a school of music, music a ...
since 1986 *Faculty,
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Kutztown University of Pennsylvania (Kutztown University or KU) is a public university in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher ...
*
Artist-in-residence Artist-in-residence (also Writer-in-residence), or artist residencies, encompass a wide spectrum of artistic programs that involve a collaboration between artists and hosting organisations, institutions, or communities. They are programs that pr ...
,
Amsterdam Conservatory The Conservatorium van Amsterdam (CvA) is a Dutch conservatoire of music located in Amsterdam. This school is the music division of the Amsterdam University of the Arts, the city's vocational university of arts. The Conservatorium van Amsterdam ...


Publications

* ''Brazilian Rhythms for Drumset'', (Book & CD), by Duduka da Fonseca and John Riley,
Alfred Publishing Alfred may refer to: Arts and entertainment *''Alfred J. Kwak'', Dutch-German-Japanese anime television series * ''Alfred'' (Arne opera), a 1740 masque by Thomas Arne * ''Alfred'' (Dvořák), an 1870 opera by Antonín Dvořák *"Alfred (Interlu ...
(November 1, 1993) * ''The Art of Bop Drumming,''
Alfred Publishing Alfred may refer to: Arts and entertainment *''Alfred J. Kwak'', Dutch-German-Japanese anime television series * ''Alfred'' (Arne opera), a 1740 masque by Thomas Arne * ''Alfred'' (Dvořák), an 1870 opera by Antonín Dvořák *"Alfred (Interlu ...
(July 11, 1994) * ''Beyond Bop Drumming,''
Alfred Publishing Alfred may refer to: Arts and entertainment *''Alfred J. Kwak'', Dutch-German-Japanese anime television series * ''Alfred'' (Arne opera), a 1740 masque by Thomas Arne * ''Alfred'' (Dvořák), an 1870 opera by Antonín Dvořák *"Alfred (Interlu ...
(March 17, 1997) * ''The Jazz Drummer's Workshop,''
Modern Drummer ''Modern Drummer'' is a monthly publication targeting the interests of drummers and percussionists. The magazine features interviews, equipment reviews, columns offering advice on technique, and information for the general public. ''Modern Dru ...
(January 1, 2005) * ''The Master Drummer'' (DVD),
Alfred Publishing Alfred may refer to: Arts and entertainment *''Alfred J. Kwak'', Dutch-German-Japanese anime television series * ''Alfred'' (Arne opera), a 1740 masque by Thomas Arne * ''Alfred'' (Dvořák), an 1870 opera by Antonín Dvořák *"Alfred (Interlu ...
(April 1, 2009)


See also

*
List of drummers This is a list of notable drummers that meet Wikipedia's notability guideline for inclusion. A * Remu Aaltonen * Vinnie Paul Abbott (Pantera, Damageplan, Hellyeah) * Dave Abbruzzese (Pearl Jam) * Matt Abts (Gov't Mule) * Alex Acuña (Wea ...
*
Manhattan School of Music The Manhattan School of Music (MSM) is a private music conservatory A music school is an educational institution specialized in the study, training, and research of music. Such an institution can also be known as a school of music, music a ...
*
Zildjian The Avedis Zildjian Company, simply known as Zildjian (), is a musical instrument manufacturer specializing in cymbals and other percussion instruments. Founded by the ethnic Armenian Zildjian family in the 17th-century Ottoman Empire, the com ...


References


drummerworld.com bio Drummerworld bio


External links


John Riley official website

Encyclopedia of Jazz Musicians: ''John Riley''

''Drummer — The Greats: John Riley'', Modern Drummer (magazine), November 2, 2010
{{DEFAULTSORT:Riley, John B. American jazz drummers Bebop drummers Big band drummers Mainstream jazz drummers Swing drummers Drummers from New York (state) Manhattan School of Music faculty State University of New York faculty Manhattan School of Music alumni University of North Texas College of Music alumni Living people 1954 births American jazz educators People from Aberdeen, Maryland 20th-century American drummers American male drummers People from Scotch Plains, New Jersey Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School alumni Jazz musicians from Maryland Jazz musicians from Texas 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians Drummers from Maryland Drummers from New Jersey Drummers from Texas Musicians from Union County, New Jersey