Dear Alex

On June 9, 2024, the music world lost Alex Riel, an icon in Danish music history and a vital part of the expansion of jazz music during a golden age of the genre. As a drummer, he was unique—playful, energetic, and a generational talent. He radiated an infectious joy and approached the drums, music, and the people around him with genuine enthusiasm and deep empathy. He was a pillar of Danish music and in the international jazz community. Alex was Denmark’s first call drummer for decades and left his mark on the music in an illustrious career spanning more than 70 years with his technique, energy, and unique musicality, playing with some of the world’s greatest jazz musicians, including Bill Evans, Ben Webster, Dexter Gordon, Michael Brecker, Kenny Drew, NHØP - the list goes on - and moving effortlessly between rock, pop, and experimental music. His 1966 debut album, ALEX RIEL TRIO, cemented his status as a master drummer, and he continued to inspire generations of musicians throughout his life. With his infectious joy of playing and eternal curiosity, he was a living legend who left an indelible mark. Alex Riel held a special place in the hearts of many drum-mers, but none more so than Stefan Pasborg (b. 1974). As fate would have it, Riel became Pasborg’s legal godfather, and music became a gateway to a magical universe of drums, cymbals, gongs, and a sea of percussion sounds they would explore together. Alex Riel was a steady and inspiring presence in Stefan's life for 50 years—with love, joy, humor, and music. Stefan Pasborg is one of Denmark's most recognized and versatile drummers. With his energetic style and experi-mental approach to the drums, he has made his mark in jazz, avant-garde, and rock music, playing and recording with many Danish and international artists. A few months ago, Pasborg found a handwritten list of Alex's favorite songs in the now departed drummer’s handwriting. The sight of it touched Stefan profoundly, inspiring him to invite his trio, consisting of two more top Danish musicians, pianist Carsten Dahl and tenor saxophonist Fredrik Lundin, into the studio to record their versions of some of these songs. The goal was to capture the immediacy and spontaneity that always characterized the energy with Alex. The result was this album. On his debut album, Alex played an abstract, unaccompa-nied solo improvisation entitled In A Way. Pasborg selected five passages from that recording and wove them into his own solo improvisation, In Another Way, as a tribute to Riel. On the album, you can hear Riel play for a few seconds while Pasborg improvises around it - an idea he loves be-cause sounds created almost 60 years ago now live on in this new album, alongside the trio's interpretations. As an extra detail, Pasborg plays Dear Alex on the same drum kit Riel used on his debut - his legendary Gretsch kit from the 1960s. Stefan writes in his moving liner notes that with this album, he wants to honor Alex as an unforgettable musician and friend and that “the album and its message come directly from the heart. Alex, thank you for all you were and all you gave. We will never forget you. Dear Alex - this album is from us to you.”