Alex Riel: The Danish Jazz Drumming Dynamo
Alex Riel is a Danish jazz drummer whose career spans over six decades, making him a foundational figure in Scandinavia's vibrant jazz scene. Hailing from Copenhagen, his prolific output includes collaborations with international legends and a steady stream of acclaimed recordings that have cemented his status at home and abroad.
Early career
Born in 1940, Alex Riel began his musical journey in Copenhagen, initially studying violin before discovering his true passion for the drums. His professional start came in the early 1960s with the groundbreaking Danish group The Savage Rose, contributing to their self-titled 1968 debut album which fused rock with progressive and jazz elements.
Breakthrough
Riel's reputation as a premier jazz drummer solidified in the late 1960s and early 1970s through his work with the legendary pianist and composer Benny Goodman. This high-profile collaboration, including a notable 1969 performance in Stockholm, placed the Danish musician firmly on the international jazz map and led to a flurry of recording sessions.
Key tracks
My Funny Valentine — This track from the 1974 album "Alex Riel Trio" showcases his subtle, melodic approach to drumming within a classic jazz standard format.
På Nørrebro — A key cut from the 1995 album "Rielatin'" that highlights his ability to blend intricate jazz rhythms with Latin influences.
Blues for T — Featured on the 2003 album "Alex Riel Trio with Jesper Lundgaard," this original composition demonstrates his deep feel for the blues tradition.
Pent-Up House — His powerful interpretation of this Sonny Rollins classic, recorded live with Dexter Gordon in 1969, is a masterclass in hard bop accompaniment.
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Alex Riel led his own highly regarded trios and quartets, releasing albums on labels like Stunt Records and Storyville Records. His 1990 collaboration with guitarist John Scofield on the album "Rielatin'" is a standout, blending jazz with Brazilian rhythms. In later years, he formed a celebrated duo with pianist Thomas Clausen, resulting in the intimate and critically praised 2012 live album "Duo.
Fans of Alex Riel's sophisticated and rhythmically inventive style also enjoy the work of Carsten Dahl, another Danish pianist known for his exploratory and lyrical approach to modern jazz. The powerful saxophone work of Benjamin Koppel shares a similar dedication to melodic clarity and cross-genre collaboration. For listeners drawn to Riel's trio mastery, the recordings of Jakob Bro offer a contemporary and atmospheric take on the Nordic jazz tradition.
Alex Riel's extensive catalog is a staple on jazz-focused radio stations, from dedicated classic jazz FM stations to modern online jazz radio streams. His music, spanning from hard bop to Latin-infused projects, provides essential content for programmers seeking authoritative and dynamic drumming.
The music of Alex Riel, a pillar of Danish jazz, can be heard regularly on the radio stations featured on our website. Listeners can discover his vast contributions to the genre by tuning into the jazz stations available on onairium.com.
