Drummer Alex Riel has passed away at the age of 83, his wife, author Ane Riel, announced in a Facebook post. Alex Riel passed away peacefully in his bed in Liseleje after a period of terminal illness. Ane Riel expresses her grief in the post: “Heaven has gained a drummer. I have lost a beloved husband, loving friend, and incomparable playmate for the past 25 years. Many of you have lost a dear friend and colleague, and we have all lost a musician of divine grace.” Alex Riel was a prominent figure in the Danish music scene and has played with rock group Savage Rose, Sebastian Band, and saxophonist Benjamin Koppel, among others. His musical journey began at the jazz club Montmartre in Copenhagen, where he went on to perform with great names such as Bill Evans, Ben Webster, Dexter Gordon, and Monica Zetterlund. Throughout his career, Riel received several awards, including the recognition as Danish Jazz Musician of the Year in 1965 and the “Jazzhus Montmartre Legend Lifetime Achievement Award” on his 70th birthday in 2010. His contributions to both the Danish and international music scene will be remembered and missed by many.

Read the danish version here