Max Greger

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Max Greger is a popular German orchestra leader and saxophonist. He began as an accordionist then went on to the Munich Conservatory where he studied clarinet and saxophone. After a stint in the military he started to play in jazz ensembles, and by the the end of the 1940’s was leading a big band.

Greger was very popular in his native Germany throughout the ‘50’s, and appeared regularly on television from 1963 to 1977. He recorded countless records for Polydor. His musical output includes easy listening as well as jazz, swing, polka or Schlager. He was heavily influenced by Glenn Miller and liked to play his music live.

By 2000 he started touring with Paul Kuhn and Hugo Strasser as the "Swing-Legenden" (swing legends). The concerts all over Germany are well received. Max Greger and his two friends remain active entertainers belying their age. Gregers son Max Greger Jr. is also a musician and recorded several records.

Max Greger and the RIAS Big Band: Swingtime

by Jack Bowers
June 1, 1999

There are times when an album’s title is remarkably descriptive, and this is one of them. This is all about swinging, with Germany’s RIAS Big Band providing the backdrop for guest soloist Max Greger, an Earl Bostic/Tiny Bradshaw/Arnett Cobb–style tenor saxophonist from the “blow hard and blow ’em away” school of straight–from–the–shoulder ad–libs. Although his name appears above the marquee, Greger actually solos on only four numbers, and is abetted along the way by trumpeters Benny Bailey and Till Brönner, ...