Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado

These Danes, you’ve got to hand it to them. So quiet, so thoughtful and considerate in their actions - like the trend of “Scandi-dramas” on TV; you’d almost take them for under-achievers. Then hang on; despite 3 extra letters we don’t have in their alphabet (Æ, Ø, Å) they’ve one of the largest number of Nobel laureates per capita in the World; they invented Lego; they developed Skype (before selling it to Microsoft); Tivoli gardens inspired Disneyworld. Musically, Denmark is the birth country of Metallica’s Lars Ulrich and home of the World renowned Copenhagen Jazz Festival and now, along comes Thorbjorn Risager.

He has been mentioned on here before, other than gig guides, one of the first, Ligho gave one of her brilliant shouts about 5 years ago for the Dust & Scratches album. So, when word came round I the early summer that Thorbjørn  & band were visiting my patch, the ticket was booked.

So, was the anticipation worth it? Well, when Harry’s there from Saltburn, Mike’s come over from Darlington and Tony & Christine from Blues Matters are in attendance, you know you’re onto something big. And was it ever delivered. Down from a 10 piece to a 7 piece Black Tornado, most likely due to stage limitations Hartlepool got a night of sheer brilliance. Over two 60 minute sets, Thorbjorn and band grabbed Hartlepool by the suit lapels and took them on a train ride from Chicago, first stop at St Louis and then right down to New Orleans to party; and Hartlepool likes a party. Think a mix of The Blues Brothers Band led by Van Morrison; think Ian Siegal leading BB KIng’s Band. In true Danish style, Thorbjørn  has sat down and considered, “what’s the best way I can deliver the music I love and please crowds?” The answer put together other like-minded Danes Emil Balsgaard – piano and organ; Peter Skjerning – guitar and back-up vocals; Hans Nybo – saxophone and back-up vocals; Peter Kehl – trumpet and back-up vocals; Søren Bøjgaard – bass; Martin Seidelin – drums and back-up vocals And the result is a band who play like an freight train, loaded with hot, jumpin’ Blues.

Most of the set came from the two most recent albums, Too Many Roads & Change My Game, but that didn’t matter, both quality albums won the crowd over in short order, and a cover of Baby Please Don’t Go even got Tommy & his good lady on the dance floor.

A quick visit to the UK, but a show like this cements the reputation Black Tornado already enjoys through the rest of Europe; anyone heading for Skegness next January; this is one storm you won’t want to miss.