90 gigs/year in a dozen countries: crossover success for unique combination of talents!
Thorbjørn Risager’s exceptional voice has made many US critics – not only one, but a whole bunch of
them – refer to Ray Charles and other vocal giants to find something to compare him with. Delbert
McClinton, Bob Seger och David Clayton-Thomas have also been mentioned, by journalists who
probably couldn’t have imagined that such vocalists existed on this side of the Atlantic.
But it doesn’t end with that powerful voice – actually it starts there! The ability to write music with
components from many genres, especially blues, rock och soul but also jazz, funk, New Orleans,
singer-songwriter, roots, and fuse it into a richly varied brew, created a new sound, well actually a
new genre. The choice of musicians, done more than eight years ago, was very fortunate. Thorbjørn
chose persons that he really wanted to work with, and only two members have changed since 2002.
Their energy, tight interplay, and friendliness, is mentioned by everyone who works with the band.
And each musician has his special responsibility: finances, technique, CD sales, web page, transports
etc. Thorbjørn himself is a modern democratic leader, at the same time as he is doing most of the
songwriting. But the arrangements are always a teamwork, and the band gets together at their
rehearsal space every single Thursday, except when on tour.
6 CD’s in 7 years – all of these except the debut containing between 90 and 100 % originals – is also pretty unique.
And with about 95 concerts per year in a dozen countries (and 60 of these abroad – through the years
they have performed in 17 countries!) they are one of Denmark’s most successful music exports.
In other words: they are one of the Danish bands which is playing the largest amount of concerts
abroad! And this in spite of the fact that they don’t play a typically broad genre such as pop, rock or
hiphop, or are signed to a ”major label”. That they are a seven-piece band should make it harder to
get booked, but the music itself and the hard, long-term work from the band and their agent/manager
has given great results!
They often have a crossover-effekt, playing and getting reviewed also in the rock- and jazzworld, not
only in the blues circuit, thanks to the mix of elements from many genres, and of course Thorbjørn’s
fantastic voice. So they have become a popular band at many types of festivals and venues.
10 concerts in France – where their two latest CD’s have been released through the French label
Dixiefrog – and 20 in Germany only during 2011 is an indication of their growing international
success.
”Risager has songwriting skills that match his larger-than-life voice” Kyle M. Palarino, BluesWax (US)
”It’s only a matter of time before the secret’s out on this guy. Bottom line: he’s dynamite. Don’t sleep on this one!” Dylann DeAnna, BluesWax (US)
www.risager.info
Read more...