# Alex Riel > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Alex_Riel > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Alex_Riel.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_Riel > Source revision: 1321631539 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Danish jazz and rock drummer (1940–2024) Alex Riel Alex Riel photo by Gorm Valentin Background information Born (1940-09-13)13 September 1940 Copenhagen, Denmark Died 9 June 2024(2024-06-09) (aged 83) Liseleje, Denmark Genres Jazz, rock Occupation Musician Instrument Drums Years active 1962–2024 Website www.alexriel.dk Musical artist **Alex Riel** (13 September 1940 – 9 June 2024) was a Danish [jazz](/source/Jazz) and [rock](/source/Rock_music) drummer.[1][2] His first group, the Alex Riel/[Palle Mikkelborg](/source/Palle_Mikkelborg) Quintet, won the Montreux Grand Prix Award at the [Montreux Jazz Festival](/source/Montreux_Jazz_Festival) in 1968.[3] He was married to the writer [Ane Riel](/source/Ane_Riel). ## Biography Riel recorded with, among others, [Booker Ervin](/source/Booker_Ervin), [Kenny Drew](/source/Kenny_Drew), [Kenny Werner](/source/Kenny_Werner), [Bob Brookmeyer](/source/Bob_Brookmeyer), [Thomas Clausen](/source/Thomas_Clausen_(musician)), [Bill Evans](/source/Bill_Evans), [Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis](/source/Eddie_Davis_(saxophonist)), [Donald Byrd](/source/Donald_Byrd), [Don Cherry](/source/Don_Cherry_(jazz)), [Thad Jones](/source/Thad_Jones), and [Ben Webster](/source/Ben_Webster). He formed a jazz ensemble with bass player [Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen](/source/Niels-Henning_%C3%98rsted_Pedersen).[4] Riel was also a founding member in 1968 of the Danish rock group [The Savage Rose](/source/The_Savage_Rose).[5] His album *The Riel Deal* won a [Danish Grammy](/source/Danish_Music_Awards) for Best Danish Jazz Album in 1996.[6] In September 2010, Riel's 70th birthday celebration at the [Jazzhus Montmartre](/source/Jazzhus_Montmartre) was broadcast live with the title *Celebration of a Living Jazz Legend* by the Danish national television station [TV2](/source/TV_2_(Denmark)).[7] ## Personal life and death Riel married crime fiction author [Ane Riel](/source/Ane_Riel) in 2002. They lived in [Liseleje](/source/Liseleje) in [North Zealand](/source/North_Zealand) from 2005 until his death.[8] He died at his home there on 9 June 2024, at the age of 83.[9] ## Awards - *Danish Jazz Musician Award* 1965 presented by [Duke Ellington](/source/Duke_Ellington) and [Sam Woodyard](/source/Sam_Woodyard) (Photo)[10] - [Ben Webster Prize](/source/Ben_Webster_Prize) 1999 (shared with [Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen](/source/Niels-Henning_%C3%98rsted_Pedersen) and Olivier Antunes)[11] - [Danish Grammy](/source/Danish_Music_Awards) for Best Danish Jazz Album of 1996 for *The Riel Deal*[6] - *Life Time Achievement Award* from [IFPI](/source/IFPI) 2007 (Photo)[12] ## Discography ### As leader - *Alex Riel Trio* (Fona, 1965) – with [Kenny Drew](/source/Kenny_Drew), [Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen](/source/Niels-Henning_%C3%98rsted_Pedersen) - *Emergence* ([Red](/source/Red_Records), 1994) – with [Jesper Lundgaard](/source/Jesper_Lundgaard), [Jerry Bergonzi](/source/Jerry_Bergonzi) - *The Riel Deal* ([Stunt](/source/Stunt_Records), 1996) – with [Kenny Werner](/source/Kenny_Werner), Jerry Bergonzi - *Unriel* (Stunt, 1997) – with Jerry Bergonzi, [Michael Brecker](/source/Michael_Brecker), [Eddie Gómez](/source/Eddie_G%C3%B3mez_(musician)), [Mike Stern](/source/Mike_Stern), [Niels Lan Doky](/source/Niels_Lan_Doky) - *DSB Kino* (Stunt, 1998) – with [Harry Sweets Edison](/source/Harry_Sweets_Edison), [Roger Kellaway](/source/Roger_Kellaway) - *Rielatin* (Stunt, 1999) – with Jerry Bergonzi, Mike Stern, Kenny Werner - *Celebration* (Stunt, 2000) - *Live at Jive* (Stunt, 2001) – with Luts Büchner Quartet - Alex Riel Trio: *What Happened?* (Cowbell, 2004) - Alex Riel Trio: *The High & The Mighty* (Cowbell, 2007) - Alex Riel Quartet: *Live at Stars* (Cowbell, 2008) – with [Charlie Mariano](/source/Charlie_Mariano) - Alex Riel Quartet: *Riel Time* (Cowbell, 2008) - *Get Riel* (Cowbell, 2008) ### As sideman **With [Steve Dobrogosz](/source/Steve_Dobrogosz)** - *Confessions* (Prophone, 1980) - *Scary Bright* (Dragon, 1984) – with Berit Andersson **With [Kenny Dorham](/source/Kenny_Dorham)** - *Scandia Skies* (SteepleChase, 1963 [1980]) - *Short Story* (SteepleChase, 1963 [1979]) **With [Dexter Gordon](/source/Dexter_Gordon)** - *[Cheese Cake](/source/Cheese_Cake_(album))* ([SteepleChase](/source/SteepleChase_Records), 1964 [1979]) - *[King Neptune](/source/King_Neptune_(album))* (SteepleChase, 1964 [1979]) - *[Love for Sale](/source/Love_for_Sale_(Dexter_Gordon_album))* (SteepleChase, 1964 [1982]) - *[It's You or No One](/source/It's_You_or_No_One_(Dexter_Gordon_album))* (SteepleChase, 1964 [1983]) - *[Billie's Bounce](/source/Billie's_Bounce_(album))* (SteepleChase, 1964 [1983]) - *[Loose Walk](/source/Loose_Walk_(Dexter_Gordon_album))* (SteepleChase 1965 [2003]) - *[Misty](/source/Misty_(Dexter_Gordon_album))* (SteepleChase, 1965 [2004]) - *[Heartaches](/source/Heartaches_(Dexter_Gordon_album))* (SteepleChase, 1965 [2004]) - *[Ladybird](/source/Ladybird_(Dexter_Gordon_album))* (SteepleChase, 1965 [2005]) - *[More Than You Know](/source/More_Than_You_Know_(Dexter_Gordon_album))* (SteepleChase, 1975) - *[Swiss Nights Vol. 1](/source/Swiss_Nights_Vol._1)* (SteepleChase, 1975 [1976]) - *[Swiss Nights Vol. 2](/source/Swiss_Nights_Vol._2)* (SteepleChase, 1975 [1978]) - *[Swiss Nights Vol. 3](/source/Swiss_Nights_Vol._3)* (SteepleChase, 1975 [1979]) - *[Lullaby for a Monster](/source/Lullaby_for_a_Monster)* (SteepleChase, 1976 [1981]) **With [Karin Krog](/source/Karin_Krog)** - *You Must Believe in Spring* (Polydor, 1974) - *Love Songs* (Polydor, 1977) - *Something Borrowed … Something New* (Meantime, 1989) – with Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, Kenny Drew **With [Warne Marsh](/source/Warne_Marsh)** - *[Jazz Exchange Vol. 1](/source/Warne_Marsh_Quintet%3A_Jazz_Exchange_Vol._1)* (Storyville, 1975 [1976]) - *Live at the Montmartre Club* (Storyville, 1975 [1983]) – with [Lee Konitz](/source/Lee_Konitz) **With [Jackie McLean](/source/Jackie_McLean)** - *[Live at Montmartre](/source/Live_at_Montmartre_(Jackie_McLean_album))* (SteepleChase, 1972) - *[Ode to Super](/source/Ode_to_Super)* (SteepleChase, 1973) – with [Gary Bartz](/source/Gary_Bartz) - *[A Ghetto Lullaby](/source/A_Ghetto_Lullaby)* (SteepleChase, 1974) - *[The Meeting](/source/The_Meeting_(Jackie_McLean_album))* (SteepleChase, 1974) – with [Dexter Gordon](/source/Dexter_Gordon) - *[The Source](/source/The_Source_(Jackie_McLean_album))* (SteepleChase, 1974) – with Dexter Gordon **With [Palle Mikkelborg](/source/Palle_Mikkelborg)** - *The Mysterious Corona* (Debut, 1967) – with Radiojazzgruppen - *Ashoka Suite/Guadiana/Concert (Dedicated to Torolf Mølgaard)* (Metronome, 1970) **With [The Savage Rose](/source/The_Savage_Rose)** - *The Savage Rose* (Polydor, 1968) - *In the Plain* (Polydor, 1968) - *Travelin'* (Polydor, 1969) - *Your Daily Gift* (Gregar, 1970) - *Refugee* (Gregar, 1971) - *Babylon* (Polydor, 1972) - *[Dødens triumf](/source/D%C3%B8dens_Triumf)* (Polydor, 1972) **With [Archie Shepp](/source/Archie_Shepp)** - *[The House I Live In](/source/The_House_I_Live_In_(album))* (SteepleChase, 1963 [1980]) – with [Lars Gullin](/source/Lars_Gullin) - *Frankfurt Workshop '78: Tenor Saxes* (Circle, 1978 [1985]) – with [George Adams](/source/George_Adams_(musician)), [Heinz Sauer](/source/Heinz_Sauer) - *Devil Blues* (Circle, 1978 [1986]) **With [Sahib Shihab](/source/Sahib_Shihab)** - *[Sahib's Jazz Party](/source/Sahib's_Jazz_Party)* ([Debut](/source/Debut_Records), 1963) - *Sahib Shihab and The Danish Radio Jazz Group* (Oktav, 1965) **With [Stuff Smith](/source/Stuff_Smith)** - *Live at the Montmartre* (Storyville, 1965 [1988]) - *Swingin' Stuff* (EmArcy, 1965) - *Violin Summit* (SABA, 1967) – with [Stéphane Grappelli](/source/St%C3%A9phane_Grappelli), [Svend Asmussen](/source/Svend_Asmussen), [Jean-Luc Ponty](/source/Jean-Luc_Ponty) **With [Ben Webster](/source/Ben_Webster)** - *Intimate!* (Fontana, 1965) - *Blue Light* (Polydor, 1966) - *Duke's in Bed!* (Black Lion, 1969) - *Stormy Weather* (Polydor, 1970) – with [Kenny Drew](/source/Kenny_Drew) - *[My Man: Live at Montmartre 1973](/source/My_Man%3A_Live_at_Montmartre_1973)* (SteepleChase, 1973) - *Saturday Night at the Montmartre* (Black Lion, 1974) - *Atmosphere for Lovers and Thieves* (Black Lion, 1976) - *Midnight at the Montmartre* (Black Lion, 1977) - *Sunday Morning at the Montmartre* (Black Lion, 1977) **With others** - [Hacke Björkstens](/source/Hacke_Bj%C3%B6rksten) septett: *I lur och dur* (Megafon, 1972) - [Bob Brookmeyer](/source/Bob_Brookmeyer): *Holiday* (Challenge, 1981) - [Birgit Brüel](/source/Birgit_Br%C3%BCel): *Dame i Danmark* (Metronome, 1967) - [Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis](/source/Eddie_%22Lockjaw%22_Davis): *[Swingin' Till the Girls Come Home](/source/Swingin'_Till_the_Girls_Come_Home)* (SteepleChase, 1976) - [Wild Bill Davison](/source/Wild_Bill_Davison) with Kansas City Stompers: *Wild Bill Davison in Copenhagen* (CBS, 1974) – with [Sanne Salomonsen](/source/Sanne_Salomonsen) - [Champion Jack Dupree](/source/Champion_Jack_Dupree): *The Blues of Champion Jack Dupree* (Storyville, 1965) - [Herb Geller](/source/Herb_Geller): *Rhyme and Reason* (Atlantic, 1975) – with [Mark Murphy](/source/Mark_Murphy_(singer)), Earl Jordan - [Lars Graugaard](/source/Lars_Graugaard): *Smile* (Skylight, 1986) – with [Jukka Tolonen](/source/Jukka_Tolonen), [Bo Stief](/source/Bo_Stief) - [Al Grey](/source/Al_Grey) and [Jesper Thilo](/source/Jesper_Thilo) Quintet: *Al Grey & Jesper Thilo Quintet* (Storyville, 1987) - [Bent Jædig](/source/Bent_J%C3%A6dig): *Danish Jazzman 1967* (Debut, 1967) - [Steve Kuhn](/source/Steve_Kuhn), [Bengt Hallberg](/source/Bengt_Hallberg), [Monica Zetterlund](/source/Monica_Zetterlund), [Sveriges Radios Jazzgrupp](/source/Radiojazzgruppen): *Chicken Feathers* (SR, 1972) - [Ken McIntyre](/source/Makanda_Ken_McIntyre): *[Hindsight](/source/Hindsight_(Ken_McIntyre_album))* (SteepleChase, 1974) - The Radio Jazz Group: *The Radio Jazz Group* (Debut, 1965) - [Zoot Sims](/source/Zoot_Sims) and Kenny Drew Trio: *Live in Denmark* (Vantage, 1978 [1990]) - [Thorgeir Stubø](/source/Thorgeir_Stub%C3%B8): *[Flight](/source/Flight_(Thorgeir_Stub%C3%B8_album))* ([Hot Club](/source/Hot_Club_Records), 1985) - [Toots Thielemans](/source/Toots_Thielemans): *Slow Motion* (CBS, 1978) - [Radka Toneff](/source/Radka_Toneff): *Live in Hamburg* (Odin, 1981 [1992]) ## Gallery ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Dagbladenes_1-0)** *Jeg skal sgu sidde ved trommerne* Af Bine Madsen. Dagbladenes Bureau, 9 February 2010. Same interview in Flensborg Avis, 17 February 2010, Side 18 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Horsens_2-0)** *Alex Riel* Horsens Folkeblad, 16 February 2010, 2. sektion, Side 12 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Montreux Fest Carves Jazz Niche"](https://books.google.com/books?id=zgoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA93). *Billboard*. 29 June 1968. p. 93. Retrieved 15 August 2023. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Jazz](https://web.archive.org/web/20040829013311/http://www.um.dk/Publikationer/UM/English/FactsheetDenmark/JazzPopAndRock/html/chapter01.htm) at [Foreign Ministry of Denmark](/source/Foreign_Ministry_of_Denmark) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-JP_5-0)** *Riel og rytmen. Portræt: Alex Riel* Af Tove Skytte Erngaard. Jyllands-Posten, 27 July 1997, Kultur og tv, Side 1 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Storyville_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Storyville_6-1) ["Alex Riel"](https://storyvillerecords.com/product-category/alex-riel/?product_order=desc&product_orderby=default&product_count=48). Storyville Records. Retrieved 14 January 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Alex Riel 70 Year Celebration Danish National TV Live"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110716231745/http://nyhederne-dyn.tv2.dk/video/index/id/33411170/). Nyhederne-dyn.tv2.dk. Archived from [the original](http://nyhederne-dyn.tv2.dk/video/index/id/33411170/) on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2010. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-web_8-0)** ["Ane Riel-9a-b"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160822190742/http://www.forfatterweb.dk/oversigt/riel-ane/hele-portraettet-om-ane-riel) (in Danish). forfatterweb. Archived from [the original](http://www.forfatterweb.dk/oversigt/riel-ane/hele-portraettet-om-ane-riel) on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [Trommeslager Alex Riel er sovet ind efter uhelbredelig sygdom](https://tidende.dk/ind-og-udland/indland-kriminal/trommeslager-alex-riel-er-sovet-ind-efter-uhelbredelig-sygdom/353856) (in Danish) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Danish Jazz Musician Award 1965 Presented by Duke Ellington and Sam Woodyard"](http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Alex_Riel.html). Drummerworld.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100402085814/http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Alex_Riel.html) from the original on 2 April 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2010. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["The Ben Webster Award Winners of The Year 1977–2021"](https://benwebsterfoundation.com/awards). Ben Webster Foundation. Retrieved 14 January 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Life Time Achievement Award"](http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Alex_Riel.html). Drummerworld.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100402085814/http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Alex_Riel.html) from the original on 2 April 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2010. ## External links - [Official site](http://www.alexriel.dk/) - [Alex Riel](https://www.discogs.com/artist/Axel+Riel) discography at [Discogs](/source/Discogs) v t e Jazz General topics Outline of jazz Jazz (word) Jazz band Big band Improvisation Jazz Jam session Scat singing Swing performance Jazz bass Jazz drumming Jazz guitar French horn in jazz Jazz piano Jazz trombone Jazz violin Vocal jazz Women in jazz International Jazz Day Genres Avant-garde jazz Bebop Hard bop Neo-bop Post-bop Crime jazz Cape jazz Chamber jazz Cool jazz Dixieland Flamenco jazz Folk jazz Free jazz Free funk Free improvisation Punk jazz Gypsy jazz Jazz-funk Jazz fusion Jazz rap Latin jazz Afro-Cuban jazz M-Base Mainstream jazz Marabi Modal jazz Nu jazz Orchestral jazz Organ trio Progressive jazz Samba-jazz Ska jazz Smooth jazz Soul jazz Spiritual jazz Sacred jazz Spy jazz Stride Sweet jazz Swing Swing revival Third stream Trad jazz Musicians Bassists Clarinetists Drummers Guitarists Organists Percussionists Pianists Saxophonists Trombonists Trumpeters Vibraphonists Violinists Vocalists Musicians by genre Bebop Chamber jazz Cool jazz and West Coast jazz Hard bop Jazz fusion Scat Smooth jazz Soul jazz Swing Standards Pre-1920 1920s 1930s 1940s post-1950 Discographies Bethlehem Blue Note BYG Cobblestone Contemporary CTI ECM ESP-Disk' Flying Dutchman Freedom Groove Merchant Impulse! 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