Heavy Joker -

Heavy Joker was a Danish jazz-rock band that released a 1976 self-titled Polydor album and the 1978 Mercury title Caesar’s Palace.

Members: Michael Bruun (guitar, Moog, ARP Solina String Ensemble), Max Leth Jun (keyboards, vibraphone, marimba), Henrik Bødtcher (bass), Jan Sivertsen (drums, percussion)

Background

Heavy Joker took shape around guitarist Michael Bruun and bassist Henrik Bødtcher after their shared work in Thors Hammer, the Copenhagen group behind a 1971 Metronome album. The pair next recorded in Anaconda, a short-lived 1973 Epic single group that became Tyggegummibanden, where they played with drummer Jan Sivertsen. Bødtcher also played in Buki-Yamaz with drummer-composer Kasper Winding.

Bruun and Bødtcher formed the initial Heavy Joker lineup with Sivertsen and Max Leth Jr., the keyboardist-vibraphonist son of jazz pianist-vibist Max Leth.

Heavy Joker

Heavy Joker released their self-titled album in October 1976 on Polydor.

The album contains five cuts and a four-part suite dominated by guitarist/keyboardist Michael Bruun (guitars, Moog, Solina strings) and keyboardist Max Leth Jr. (grand piano, organ, electric piano, Moog, vibraphone, marimba). Guest players include keyboardist Kasper Winding, Solina player Palle Mikkelborg, percussionist Klaus Nordsø, and reedists Anders Gårdmand and Jesper Nehammer.

“Ace of Spades” opens with a quick-changing sequence and a clean ensemble turn. “That’s It!” smooths the pace with polished chord runs and shorter phrase exchange. “Heavy Joke” brightens through light symphonic themes and piano treatment. “Canasta Funk” turns a compact dynamic line through saxophone commentary.

“Ambrosia” traces delicate electric-key and vibraphone figures through baroque-edged cadences. “Symphonia” starts its long side with a piano figure over half-step chord drops, then passes through Latin-tinged accents and compact solo turns. “Transylvania Chase” drives the final segment with a synthetic beat pattern and a fugue-like close.

A1. “Ace of Spades” (3:13) – Bruun
A2. “That’s It!” (5:05) – Winding
A3. “Heavy Joke” (3:35) – Sivertsen
A4. “Canasta Funk” (2:41) – Bødtcher
A5. “Ambrosia” (5:57) – Leth

B. “Symphonia” (19:55) – Leth
— a. “Highway Habits” (7:14)
— b. “Leaving For Cala Bassa” (3:23)
— c. “Suburban Heaven” (8:42)
— d. “Transylvania Chase” (0:45)

Heavy Joker self-produced the album in January 1976 at Werner Studio in Copenhagen with engineer Werner Scherrer.

Johnsen + Johnsen A/S designed the cover, which places a red Heavy Joker logo and jester figure over blue-and-white horizontal bands. Steen Møller Rasmussen photographed the back-cover image, which shows the quartet seated outdoors.

Between albums, Heavy Joker played on the 1977 Polydor release Jumbo by Danish pop singer Peter Klixbüll.

Caesar’s Palace

Heavy Joker released their second album, Caesar’s Palace, in March 1978 on Mercury.

The album contains seven pieces by the second Heavy Joker lineup, which retains the Bødtcher/Sivertsen rhythm section and adds reedist Jens Haack (alto/tenor saxophones, Lyricon) and keyboardist Jørgen Kaufmann (Fender Rhodes, electric grand piano, grand piano, Hohner Clavinet, Minimoog, Solina strings).

“Caesar’s Palace” glides through bright E–D–B-flat–B chord motion at a brisk marked tempo. “Rainy Day” coasts through a slower, sax-lit setting and rounded synthetic backing. The remaining program favors polished mid-tempo vamps, soft phrase endings, and clean solo breaks.

A1. “Caesar’s Palace” (6:05) – Jørgen Kaufmann
A2. “Rainy Day” (5:50) – Kaufmann
A3. “Blue Counterpoint” (5:40) – Jens Haack, Kaufmann

B1. “Heavy Duty” (3:00) – Haack, Kaufmann
B2. “Wet Dreams” (2:10) – Haack, Kaufmann
B3. “No Joking” (6:50) – Kaufmann, Henrik Bødtcher
B4. “Mama” (4:30) – Kaufmann

Heavy Joker and Per Stan produced Caesar’s Palace in December 1977 at Werner Scherrer Studio in Copenhagen with engineer Werner Scherrer. Kevin Metcalfe cut the master at The Music Center in Wembley, London.

Steen Larsen conceived and photographed the cover package, which pairs a night fountain image on the front with a blue tabletop back cover, four band portraits, coins, glasses, a wallet, and a goldfish. Claus Böhm designed the layout.

Discography: