An excellent accompanist and a thoughtful soloist, Larry Ridley has appeared on a countless number of sessions as a sideman. He studied at Indiana University and the Lenox School of Jazz. After gigging in his hometown with Freddie Hubbard, James Spaulding, and Wes Montgomery, Ridley relocated to New York, where he has been active ever since. Among his more significant musical associations in the 1960s were with Slide Hampton, Max Roach, Red Garland, Art Farmer, Jackie McLean, Sonny Rollins, Horace Silver, Lee Morgan, and George Wein's Newport All-Stars (1969). Thelonious Monk's regular bassist during 1970-1973, Ridley became involved in jazz education, heading the jazz program and music department at Rutgers. He worked with Philly Joe Jones' Dameronia (1981-1985) and has been active up until the present time. Larry Ridley only recorded sparingly as a leader (including an obscure Strata East LP in 1975), but he has been a valuable sideman on many dates. ~ Scott Yanow