Thorbjorn Risager & The Black Tornado

Ruf Records have been putting out some brilliant CD/DVD combos in the 'Songs From The Road' series, in the main artists from around Europe who have been building a reputation and are in the right place in their career to be worthy of the treatment.
Thorbjorn Risager definitely falls into that category.

In 2014 the band stole away with their debut album, picking up awards in – homeland – Denmark, Germany, Britain and the US and making a name for themselves as showstealers at festivals across the globe.

You are talking here about a classic Blues voice, grizzled and dark with a smoky edge to it. Not quite an American voice but utterly unlike the majority of Europeans who try and fail miserably.
His band is superb, a seven piece including 3 horn players and backing vocals filling them out to 10 but there isn't any fat here, just rollicking R&B and soul tinged Blues that works on every level.

Mixing self-written numbers with some Blues classics such as 'Baby Please Don't Go' in many ways their own material works better.
'China Gate' is harrowing, slow and intense with Risagers' vocals supported by eerie guitar and rhythm section, the horns virtually a background drone and the whole leaving the lostener with chills. Or 'Long Forgotten Track' which has a faintly country tinge to it and, once again, brilliant backing for the main man's voice.
On the rocking side 'High Rolling' kills it with a blast of Stones style rock, the horns blasting a way and the drums – Martin Seidelin – hammering the rhythm like a thing possessed.
Closing with 'Let The Good Times Roll' is a great way to get the whole band playing hot and hard and bring the crowd right into it with them with a great barnstorming and gospelly treatment.

There are a lot of bands plying this trade, many of them fine players and big names but this crew have something special that takes them out of the ordinary. The confidence and sheer brio of the band and the 'dontgiveafuck' attitude as they attack this well worn path is going to get them a lot of fans on the way and give a bit of a shock to a lot who think they've heard it all