Max Gerl (born 1992) is an American bass player and jazz musician. Gerl has performed internationally at venues including the Monterey Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival, and Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club.
Gerl grew up in a family of musicians in Dallas, Texas. He first learned the piano and alto saxophone, and switched to the electric bass at the age of eleven under the influence of a Led Zeppelin DVD. He also took double bass lessons starting at the age of 15. After high school, he studied at the Berklee College of Music in Boston with John Patitucci, Steve Bailey, James Genus, Victor Bailey, Bruce Gertz, Tia Fuller and Hal Crook.
Gerl moved to New York City in 2017. From there he toured the United States and Europe with pianist Cameron Graves, and participated in the album Seven (2021). In 2019 he moved to Los Angeles, CA. He worked with Dan Kye, Makaya McCraven, James Francies, Stanley Clarke, Tia Fuller, Shaun Martin, Bernard Wright and Chris Cheek.
At the end of 2019, he released his debut album Tbilisi on Dolfin Records with saxophonist Aaron Shaw, pianist Paul Cornish and drummer Mike Mitchell. With Greg Spero's band Spirit Fingers he released Peace in 2020. Sasha Berliner brought him into her group, Tabula Rasa, for the SWR New Jazz Meeting 2021.
Gerl released his first solo album, Max Gerl, on July 28, 2023, with the New York jazz label JMI Recordings, which specializes in analog recording. Max Gerl was produced by bassist Stanley Clarke alongside associate producer Steven Mandel. The album includes five free improvisation tracks. JMI Recordings released Gerl's Max Gerl Trio, featuring Brian Richburg Jr. on drums and Yesseh Furaha-Ali on tenor saxophone in February, 2025.
Discography Studio albums Solo albums TitleLabelRelease datePersonnelFormatMax GerlJMI RecordingsJuly 28, 2023 Produced by Stanley Clarke. Associate Producer: Steven MandelLP, digital
As lead artist TitleLabelRelease datePersonnelFormatMax Gerl TrioJMI Recordings2025 Brian Richburg Jr. (drums) and Yesseh Furaha-Ali (tenor saxophone)LP, digitalHard PanJMI Recordings2024Max Gerl & Mike MitchellLP, digitalTbilisiDolfin RecordsDecember 10, 2019Max Gerl (Acoustic and Electric Bass), Aaron Shaw (Tenor Saxophone), Paul Cornish (Piano), Mike Mitchell (Drums) CD, digital
As featured TitleLabelRelease datePersonnelFormatSevenMack Avenue RecordsFebruary 19, 2021Cameron Graves (piano, vocals). Featuring Max Gerl (bass), Mike Mitchell (drums), Colin Cook (guitar), and Kamasi Washington (tenor saxophone)LP, CD, digitalPeace 2020Greg Spero + Spirit Fingers (Max Gerl, Mike Mitchell, Dario Chiazzolino)CD, digital
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