Thorbjørn Risager
In the blues world, a big voice is often accompanied by a big ego (or at le… Read Full Bio ↴In the blues world, a big voice is often accompanied by a big ego (or at least a medium sized one…)
But the Danish singer Thorbjørn Risager, praised for his rough and strong voice by an unanimous choir of critics from a growing number of countries – 15 the last time we counted them - is a soft-spoken gentleman off stage. He is the leader of his seven-piece band mainly for practical reasons – to bring any little issue into a group discussion can be quite time-consuming. He is also composing most of the band’s music, and during the performance he is the obvious center of attention, even if the band has a charming way of passing round the task of introducing the songs between them, so that each musician gets his word in.
And this is a real smooth organization, who has divided all practical tasks such as web master, CD sales on gigs etc beween themselves. Which makes life easier in the midst of their heavy touring schedule. Since the start, they have played in 15 countreis, and only from Feb – Aug 2010 they have concerts booked in 11 European countries.
But the 38-year-old Dane had other plans for his life. He studied to be a school teacher, and worked in this profession for some years, before he decided to let the music take over. He studied at the Rhythmic Conservatory in Copenhagen, a quite unique education where many of the teachers are jazz- or rockmusicians, and where the emphasis is on Rhythmic music of all genres.
In 2003 he started his band, selected musicians he liked both musically and personally, and the fact that up until today only one of them left and was replaced, at an early stage of the band’s career, proves that the choice was excellent.
But of course Thorbjørn’s musical interest started long before this. He played the saxophone from the age of 12, then guitar – but the singing was more of a coincidence at first. He was exposed to the blues through a neighbour, a middle-aged gentleman who was friends with his parents, and who started playing blues records to the young Thorbjørn. That’s how his life-long love story with the blues started, with B B King as his biggest hero. Ray Charles is one of his other obvious influences, but today, with almost 40 recorded songs from his own pen, he has definitely defined his own sound and style.
His mixture of genres is something that is sometimes mentioned by critics, who are looking for something of more homogenity. But this is Thorbjørn’s deliberate choice. To hear a band that plays one shuffle after another, or only jump blues through an entire CD or concert, might please some critics but there’s definitely a risk that the audience will get bored.
And this is why Thorbjørn and his band have created their specific sound by other means, especially his characteristic raunchy voice and the band’s typical sound, with its horns, solo performances and rolling, almost big-band-like grooves. So he weaves threads of soul, gospel, rock, R&B and funk into his music, to create a variety and keep the audience interested, something that the band succeeds with on each single gig.
But the Danish singer Thorbjørn Risager, praised for his rough and strong voice by an unanimous choir of critics from a growing number of countries – 15 the last time we counted them - is a soft-spoken gentleman off stage. He is the leader of his seven-piece band mainly for practical reasons – to bring any little issue into a group discussion can be quite time-consuming. He is also composing most of the band’s music, and during the performance he is the obvious center of attention, even if the band has a charming way of passing round the task of introducing the songs between them, so that each musician gets his word in.
And this is a real smooth organization, who has divided all practical tasks such as web master, CD sales on gigs etc beween themselves. Which makes life easier in the midst of their heavy touring schedule. Since the start, they have played in 15 countreis, and only from Feb – Aug 2010 they have concerts booked in 11 European countries.
But the 38-year-old Dane had other plans for his life. He studied to be a school teacher, and worked in this profession for some years, before he decided to let the music take over. He studied at the Rhythmic Conservatory in Copenhagen, a quite unique education where many of the teachers are jazz- or rockmusicians, and where the emphasis is on Rhythmic music of all genres.
In 2003 he started his band, selected musicians he liked both musically and personally, and the fact that up until today only one of them left and was replaced, at an early stage of the band’s career, proves that the choice was excellent.
But of course Thorbjørn’s musical interest started long before this. He played the saxophone from the age of 12, then guitar – but the singing was more of a coincidence at first. He was exposed to the blues through a neighbour, a middle-aged gentleman who was friends with his parents, and who started playing blues records to the young Thorbjørn. That’s how his life-long love story with the blues started, with B B King as his biggest hero. Ray Charles is one of his other obvious influences, but today, with almost 40 recorded songs from his own pen, he has definitely defined his own sound and style.
His mixture of genres is something that is sometimes mentioned by critics, who are looking for something of more homogenity. But this is Thorbjørn’s deliberate choice. To hear a band that plays one shuffle after another, or only jump blues through an entire CD or concert, might please some critics but there’s definitely a risk that the audience will get bored.
And this is why Thorbjørn and his band have created their specific sound by other means, especially his characteristic raunchy voice and the band’s typical sound, with its horns, solo performances and rolling, almost big-band-like grooves. So he weaves threads of soul, gospel, rock, R&B and funk into his music, to create a variety and keep the audience interested, something that the band succeeds with on each single gig.
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Thorbjørn Risager Lyrics
Ain't Ever Gonna Leave No More AIN'T EVER GONNA LEAVE NO MORE NIGHT IS FALLING DARK AS…
All I Want ALL I WANT I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M GOING I DON'T KNOW…
BABY PLEASE DON'T GO Baby Please Don't Go Baby, please don't go Baby, please don'…
Burning up BURNING UP HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I ASKED MYSELF WHERE IS THE …
China Gate China Gate, China Gate Many dreams and many hearts You separ…
Come on In WAY OVER YONDER ACROSS THE STREET THERE'S A LITTLE OL' PLACE…
Dreamland DREAMLAND BEEN HERE FOR SO LONG I CAN HARDLY BREATHE AND I'…
End of time I wanna goooo Where ever you gooo My hearts beats for you…
EYES THAT TURNED AWAY EYES THAT TURNED AWAY RAIN FELL THIS MORNING SUN TURNED COL…
Heart Of The Night HEART OF THE NIGHT I SIT HERE IN THE DARK TRYING TO…
High Rolling HIGH ROLLING HIGH ROLLING ON A CLOUDY DAY BROKE AND LONELY …
Hold My Lover Tight HOLD MY LOVER TIGHT WHEN SHADOWS FALLING AND THE DAY TURNS …
I Used to Love You I USED TO LOVE YOU THERE WAS A TIME WE USED TO…
I Won't Let You Down I WON'T LET YOU DOWN I WON'T LET YOU DOWN BUT I…
I'LL BE MOVING ON I'LL BE GONE NOW YEAH BUT I WON'T BE GONE TOO…
If You Wanna Leave IF YOU WANNA LEAVE GO AHEAD NOW BABY IF YOU WANNA LEAVE…
In the Back of My Mind IN THE BACK OF MY MIND I RUN THROUGH THE DARK WITH…
Last Train HEART FULL OF SORROW MY WORLD'S IN A MESS MY SOUL'S A…
LET'S GO DOWN I WON'T LET YOU DOWN I WON'T LET YOU DOWN BUT I…
Long Forgotten Track See the moon, see it shining Said the man behind the…
Love so Fine I'VE BEEN RUNNING OUT OF LUCK I'VE BEEN RUNNING OUT OF…
Love Turned Cold LOVE TURNED COLD SHOT DOWN IN THE HEAVY RAIN BLOOD RUNNING …
Maybe It's Alright MAYBE IT'S ALRIGHT 15 YEARS OF TROUBLE 15 YEARS OF JOY 15 Y…
Never Givin' In I'VE BEEN ROLLING LOW I'VE BEEN HIDING OUT FOR …
Nobody but the Moon A BOAT DRIFTS CROSS THE OCEAN HOLDING 100 LIVES WITH FEARFUL…
On My Way ON MY WAY I LAY AWAKE TILL THE MORNING COMES SUN CREEPING I…
Over the Hill THERE'S A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER THERE'S A CHANGE IN ME SOMEB…
Paradise PARADISE SUN'S SINKING DOWN FIRES BURNING LOW THERE'S A CHA…
RHYTHMS OF THE NIGHT RHYTHMS OF THE NIGHT I WANNA DANCE AND HOLD YOU TIGHT TO…
Rock 'n' Roll Ride ROCK 'N' ROLL RIDE (Thorbjørn Risager) WHEN THE MOON SHINE …
Same old blues SAME OLD LIES - PART 1 SHE SAID COME ON ALONG…
STAND BESIDE ME STAND BESIDE ME I KNOW IT'S LATE IN THE EVENING AND I…
Through The Tears THROUGH THE TEARS I LAY DOWN MY HEAD BABY TRY TO GET…
Too Many Roads TOO MANY ROADS WELL I KEEP ON ROLLING BUT MY TIME AIN'T…
Train HEART FULL OF SORROW MY WORLD'S IN A MESS MY SOUL'S A…
Two Lovers HE SAID I'LL NEVER LEAVE YOU A TEAR FELL FROM HER…
You Better Pay Attention YOU BETTER PAY ATTETION COME OVER HERE SIT ON THAT CHAIR I …
You can have it your way YOU CAN HAVE IT YOUR WAY YOU CAN HAVE IT YOUR…
YOU WALKED RIGHT IN YOU WALKED RIGHT IN I WANNA TELL YOU WHAT'S ON MY…