Ben Cliness is a New York drummer working in the mainstream and swing tradition, a steady presence in the city's straight-ahead scene. He is a frequent sideman in guitar- and piano-led small groups at clubs such as Smalls and Mezzrow, appearing with the John Merrill Trio and the Andy Brown Trio among others. He plays in the Street of Dreams quartet alongside saxophonist Sam Taylor, guitarist Greg Ruggiero, and bassist Aidan O'Donnell, and drums with The Smoke Rings, a group known for its long-running weekly residency at the Top of the Standard. Reviewers have singled out his precise, swinging brushwork and unobtrusive, supportive touch.
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