Ben Riley is known for his work and his collaborations with musicians such as, amongst others, Thelonious Monk, Stan Getz, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Alice Coltrane, Woody Herman, Ahmad Jamal, Kenny Barron, Ron Carter and Sonny Rollins. Riley, in the 1970s, was also a member of the New York Jazz Quartet. He has worked mainly as sideman, however, he has also a career as a leader, started in 1996 with the album "Weaver of Dreams".