Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado-Best of, 2CD Box set
Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado, Best of, 2CD Box set
‘Great Dane’ Thorbjorn Risager, gathered some like minded musicians together back in 2003, and the Black Tornados were formed, their first album came out in 2005, with, 10 more both live and studio, followed on. This double album collection is a selection of their most enduring music from that back catalogue, and if you’ve never listened to Thorbjorn and the band, you have missed out on some great music full of root blues fused with a cocktail of jazz, swing, and rock’n’roll. Its a broad spectrum of the musical genre, wrapped around its blues core, with some sublime musicianship, including “Big Easy” horns, and soulful tubes.
The whole collection unwraps with a gritty, hard punching, ‘Rock’n’Roll Ride’. Its no lightweight from the Happy Days US diner, this grips from the start, and you will be in for the long haul, wondering why haven’t you heard these guys before. A swampy, ‘Rhythms Of The Night’, brings a whole different groove, its infectious, with the first hint of the horns breathing in, but don’t get stuck on repeat, there’s plenty more to find. ‘Stand Beside Me’, proves more soulful, a slow burning ballad, that brings in a hint of gorgeous deep sax, undercutting the breezy brass floating above.
Deep, thumping pulse of bass, and slide resonator guitar tone, is the life blood, of the superb root blues, ‘On My Way’, which gives way to the swing of, ‘You Better Pay Attention’, double bass adding a bit of gravitas, the trumpet solo is a beaut, it could have you pulling up your partner and sweeping around the floor like Gene Kelly and Cyd Charrise.
‘All I Want’, is a rollicking rocker, that gallops along at a pace, driven along by the drum led rhythm. Hard on its heels a lovely harp swept blues, subdued but superb, biting like a swamp mosquito, ‘Ain’t Ever Gonna Leave No More’, will have you reaching for that replay button. But hold on, your about to be singed by the ripsnorting, ‘If You Wanna Leave’, it’ll leave you battered and bruised, then coming back for more. You might just escape if you quickly jump on the, ‘Last Train’, a brilliant ride with its thundering rhythm.
There’s still, ‘Paradise’ to find, the helter-skelter rock of, ‘Hold My Lover Tight’, the beautiful, stark, ‘China Gate’, that brings a lump to your throat. But, ‘Never Give In’, this is a meaty collection worthy of uncovering every nuance. The Hard rocker, ‘Dreamland’, is another ear battering ride, standing down for the lovely vibe of, ‘Too Many Roads’, and I can’t overlook the mud plugging, ‘Sin City’, guaranteed to be fun, and a delicious groove.
I’m really only skimming over the surface of some of these songs, there are 32, well technically 33, as, ‘Same Old Lies’ has a part 1 and part 2. Its one hell of a selection box to line up for the forthcoming festive season, maybe we’ll be locked in again, you could lift the spirit a bit with this cracking collection, invite someone to get drunk on, ‘Come On In’, and bend a few rules. Thorbjorn Risager and The Black Tornados, certainly wave the flag for European Blues, and I’m definitely reserving my copy of ‘Best Of’, don’t be put off by that label, its near 20 years in making, think in terms of a 20 year barrel aged malt, bottled at cask strength. its bloody good.
Thorbjørn Risager - vocals and guitar
Emil Balsgaard - piano and organ
Joachim Svensmark- guitar and back-up vocals
Kasper Wagner – tenor saxophone
Hans Nybo - saxophone and back-up vocals
Peter Kehl - trumpet and back-up vocals
Søren Bøjgaard - bass
Martin Seidelin - drums and back-up vocals
Released on Ruf Records, and Available Now on All Your Favourite Outlets
https://risager.info/ https://risager.info/webshop/
2. Rhythms Of The Night #5
3. You Can Have it Your Way #4
7. Eyes That Turned Away #5
9. You Better Pay Attention #3
10. You Walked Right Into My Heart #5
11. I won’t let you down #3
12. In The Back Of My Mind #6
13. Heart Of The Night #3
15. Ain’t Ever Gonna Leave No More #2
4. I Used To Love You #10
5. Hold My Lover Tight #1
10. Baby Please Don’t Go #9
12. Maybe It’s Alright #10
15. Long Forgotten Track #8