Max Brüel - Cool architect and jazz aesthete

Danish architect Max Brüel (born July 14, 1927 in Hillerød, Denmark and died March 31, 1995 in Algarve, Portugal) was a versatile artistic talent who, in addition to his career in architecture, also worked as a designer, ceramicist and jazz musician. He studied architecture at the Royal Danish Academy of Arts in the 1940s and won his first architectural competition already during his studies. Around the same time, he also began his career as a musician – Brüel later gained a reputation as an internationally acclaimed jazz pianist and saxophonist. Brüel's best-known building is perhaps the Herlev Hospital in Copenhagen.

Brüel is unique among Danish, if not Euopean musicians in that he was brought up with and even encouraged to play jazz during his childhood. He started playing the piano, then took up alto saxophone. The alto was dismissed in favour of baritone in 1951 after Lars Gullin's playing had opened his ears to the possibilities of that virile sounding instrument.

Brüel was a friend and fervent admirer of Lee Konitz. Among modern baritones he preferred Lars Gullin, but considered Harry Carney the greatest exponent of the instrument.

Max Brüel Quartette

Cool Bruel

During the last four or five years Danish jazz has been dominated by the outstanding work of two young and talented soloists, baritone saxophonist Max Brüel and trumpeter Jørgen Ryg.

Born July 14, 1927, Max Brüel was playing jazz on a set of his father's homemade drums back in the early thirties, and as a child used to sit and listen to jazz dates when his parents played with other professional musicians. Brüel played a variety of instruments including the piano, a special instrument constructed by his father named the "bambaphone" and the alto sax before he decided, five years ago, to make the baritone sax his main musical instrument.

In direct contrast, Jørgen Ryg was seventeen years old before he started paracticing on his first instrument, the trumpet. Ryg has been playing trumpet ever since he became interested in music.

Since 1951 Brüel has been considered the leading Danish jazz soloist, and while living in Stockholm during the winter of 1952-53 he attracted the attention of Swedish musicians and critics. He became known in even wider circles when in June 1954 he played with a quintet at the "Salon du Jazz", the international jazz festival in Paris. Jørgen Ryg also represented Denmark at this festival.

Max Brüel cut his first records in 1950 and since then has been recorded in both Denmark and Sweden. Even though he has had considerable success as a jazz musician he does not devote his entire time to playing jazz. He is an architect by trade and this still remains his vocation. Brüel's preferences in musicians go to Lennie Tristano, Lee Konitz and Lars Gullin.

*Erik Wiedemann (liner notes)*

Max Brüel (1927-1995), spelled as "Bruel" on this LP, was one of the famous Danish baritone sax players, although there were few in the country. On this LP (originally recorded by Swedish Metronome label), Max Brüel plays his baritone in soft, moody and relaxed moods while at the same time the sound is rather swingy. B-1, B-2, B-3 (#5, #6, #7) features Jørgen Ryg on trumpet, who plays refreshing solos. *microgroove.jp*

One of Emarcy's excellent American releases of work by Swedish modernists of the 50s – in this case the quartet of Max Brüel, featuring Brüel on baritone, Bent Axen on piano, Jørgen Ryg on trumpet, Leif Sjöberg on bass, and William Schiöpffe on drums. Bruel's got a tone that recalls a lot of Lars Gullin's playing at the time – and titles include "Garlic Wafer", "Mao Tse Tsonga", "Fine & Dandy", "Maxisme", and "Non Descript".  *dustygroove.com*

Side 1

1 - These Foolish Things

(Marvell, Link, Strachey)

2 - Maxisme

(Brüel)

3 - Non Descript

(Brüel, Axen)

4 - Lover Man

(Davis, Ramirez, Sherman)

Side 2

5 - Indiana

(McDonald, Hanley)

6 - Fine And Dandy

(Swift, James)

7 - Coop De Graas

 (Shorty Rogers)

8 - Garlic Wafer

(Brüel, Axen)

9 - Mao-Tse-Tsonga

(Brüel, Axen)

Max Brüel (baritone sax); Jørgen Ryg (trumpet #5, #6, #7); Bent Axen (piano [#1 to #4, #8, #9]); Erik Moseholm [#1 to #4, #8, #9], Leif Sjöberg [#5, #6, #7] (basses), William Schiöpffe (drums).

Recorded in Copenhagen, Denmark , March 15 (#1, #3, #4, #8), March 20 (#2, #9) and April 12 (#5, #6, #7), 1955.