Reviews

Reviews from the 2020 album release “Come On In”(file opens as a dropbox folder)

Reviews from the 2017 album release “Change My Game”(file opens as a dropbox folder)

Reviews from the 2015 live album (dvd/cd) release “Songs from the road”(file opens as a dropbox folder)

Reviews from the 2014 album release “Too Many Roads”(file opens as a dropbox folder)
…and here’s various older album and live reviews from around the world! 🙂

Review from Bluesrevue
“Risager and his band are a class act!”

Review from Jefferson blues mag. (NO)

Review from Jazzspecial (DK)

Bluesmatters (UK)
“Balls and Brassy!!!”

Classic Rock (DE)
“Dänemark muss in der Nähe von Memphis liegen”

Il Blues (IT)
From Italy.

Rhythm and Blues (UK)

Five stars!!! in Danish newspaper “Fyens stiftstidende”

Review from Blues in Britain

**** in Danish musicmagazine GAFFA

Review from NYA LIRA
“Ruffig Blues”

Review from ROCKTIMES(DE)
“Black Danish Dynamite der Spitzenklasse!”

Review from JAZZ´N´MORE (CH)“
“Schweisstreibender, erdiger, rythm and blues mit schmetternden Bläsersätzen, sorgfältig ausgearbeiteten arrangements, heissen guitarsoli und Risagers herrlich souligem gesang sind das markenzeichen der dänischen band”

Dust and Scratches review from Rocks (DE)
“Die wirkung ist gross”

Dust and Scratches review from Bluesnews (DE)
“Ob in puncto songwriting, arrangements oder performance, “Dust and Scratches” hat definitiv etwas von einem kleinen Geniestreich”

Dust and Scratches review from Rootstime (BE)

Dust and Scratches review from Bluesmagazine (NL)

Track Record Review from Rootsy.nu (SE)
“Risager och hans mannar växer hela tiden och har gjort det sedan starten 2003. Dessförinnan hade han tänkt sig en karriär som skollärare. Tur för oss att han hittade sin blues.”

Track Record Review from Politiken (DK)
++++
“Traditionel bluessanger har stærke stemmebånd”

Track Record Review from Blues Matters Magazine (UK)
“These guys can really light up a stereo system”

Track Record Review from Jazz N More (CH)
+++++

Concert Review from Kamgarn, Kaisersalaughtern in DIE RHEINPFALZ (DE)
“Am Mittwoch-abend begeisterte im Cotton Club der Kammgarn Thorbjørn Risager mit seiner Band”

Track Record Review from Bluesbreeker (NL)
“Dat Thorbjørn Risager door het publiek wordt gewaardeerd is gebleken tijdens zijn optredens op o.a.: (Ge)Varenwinkel bluesfestival en op het laatste Moulin Blues festival. Dat wat daar gespeeld is wijkt niets af van wat hij op “Track Record” heeft opgenomen. Zowel in de studio als ook live zie en hoor je alleen maar kwaliteit. Goede songs met prima teksten en uistekende muziek. Dit album staat als een huis en het is beslist de moeite waard om dit schijfje in bezit te krijgen.”

Track Record Review from Lira (SE)
“Det svänger med en befriande självklarhet och utan att trampa ner sig i de värst shufflestinkande pölarna. Med undantag för Big Joe Williams-klassikern Baby please don’t go (och två låtar av trummisen Martin Seidelin) är materialet komponerat av Risager själv och det är bara att gratulera till ett sällsynt gott hantverk. Han äger dessutom en myndig, kraftfull och tonsäker stämma som ställer majoriteten av Skandinaviens bluessångare i skamvrån. Danskjävlar.”

Concert review from Springblues in Back To The Roots (BE)
“Zijn ruwe en krachtige stem maakt de band tot een goed geoliede machine. “

Concert review from Springblues in Rootstime (BE)
Daar waar Thorbjørn Risager, mooi in maatpak, vandaan komt is het klimaat doorgaans kouder, maar vanaf het ogenblik dat de langbenige bluesman uit Kopenhagen zijn eerste song aanheft, verspreidt de warmte zich als roodgloeiend vuur.

Track Record Review from Soul Bag Magazine (FR)
++++
“Etonnant Thorbjørn Risager qui produit à un rythme soutenu des disques d’un niveau constamment élevé.”

Track Record Review from Twoj Blues(PL)

Track Record Review from Blues News (DE)

Concert review from Vienna Blues Spring (AT)
“Eines der besten – für mich bis dato DAS beste – Konzerte des heurigen VBS fand diese Woche”

Track Record review from Blues In Britain:
“In fact this really is a band performance with strong arrangements and short punchy solos where required. IT would be great to see them over here again, as they really are a class act. The CD title is “Track Record” and for me this guy’s track record is 100 %. Another winner and well worth you searching out. It definitely gets a “Recommended” sticker! Rating: 9″

Track Record review in Rootsville (BE)
“great Danish vocalist and his equally outstanding band”

Aktuell in Bluesnews (DE)
Der Däne mit der schwarzen Stimme

Positive review on Route 66 blog

Track Record review from Vejle Amts Folkeblad(DK)
***** Skramlende blues med næsen i sporet

Track Record review from Bluesvan (Hungary)
A CD-t nyugodt szívvel ajánlom mindenkinek meghallgatásra

Track Record review from Bluestime (Italy)
Risager ha una voce potente, voluttuosamente vetrosa e diretta che distilla linfa vitale con naturale eleganza a qualsiasi groove e scansione ritmica

Track Record review from Rootstime (Belgium)

Interview from Rootstime 2008 (Belgium)

–Track Record review from Bluesnews.de
“Für Freunde intelligenter handgemachter Musik in den Traditionen von Blues, R&B und Soul definitiv ein Must-have.”

Track Record Review from Blues Magazine (NL)
Een pracht strot ala Billy Price, die soult Funkt, Bluesed alsof zijn leven er van af hangt. Daarnaast ook nog eens een uitstekende gitarist, die menig mooi loopje etaleert in de diverse songs. Ja U hoort het al, ik ben echt een fan van hem, en Live is deze man met uitmuntende band niet te versmaden, dus dat wordt een groot feest denk ik.

Track Record Review from Rock Times (DE)
Risagers Blues ist extrem ‘schwarz’, mit viel R&B, Soul und Chicago Blues. Sein Gitarrenton ist als eher klassisch-konservativ zu bezeichnen, die Vocals sind rauchig und voll intensiver Emotionen.

Track Record Review from NordJyske
“Så ruller bluestoget”

Track Record Review from Diskant.dk

Track Record Review from Fyens Stiftstidene
5/6 stars
“Uforfalsket dansk bluesbrag”

Track Record Review from Gaffa. 4/6 stars.
“Svedig soul og blues fra stærk stemme”

Review of Live At Victoria from Rootsville (Belgium)

Review of Live At Victoria from Concerto 5/5 points (Austria)

Review of Live At Victoria from Diskant.dk (Danish)

Review of Live At Victoria from RootsZone (Danish)

Review of Live At Victoria from Blues Magazine (Netherlands)

Review of Live At Victoria from Bobtje’s Blues (Netherlands)

Review of Live At Victoria from Musicserwis (Poland)

Review of Live At Victoria from Rootsville (Belgium)
He was amazing on his debut CD and now, with every new record he gets even better. Thorbjorn is a full package – his voice is memorable and full of soul, his guitar playing brings to mind some of the six string masters and his songs are all potential radio hits. Plus, T.’s band is tight as hell. This new live album is no exception – with the very first song it blew me away as this is the kind of rhythm’n’blues I love to hear. The sound quality is pristine, too. With “Live At Victoria” Thorbjorn is on his way to a worldwide success!
-Przemek Draheim, Poland

Risager is here in top form, full of energy, an energy with a good self-control, organised and musical.
Congratulations for the compositions, excellents.
A wonderful CD on my opinion.
-Serge WARIN, Radio Canal Bleu, France

From The Heart “Recommended” by John Taylor – “Blues On Stage”

En velklædt mand med ambitioner (Danish)

Diskant.dk – “Here I Am” 8 out of 10 (Danish)

Interview at Blues-Finland.com (English)
“Here I Am” Review from Blues In Britain PDF

“Here I Am” Review from Concerto (Austria) JPG

“Here I Am” Review from Blueswax PDF

“Here I Am” Review from Bobtje’s Blues Pages
(Dutch)
-Learn Dutch here

“Here I Am” Review from Barometern.se
(Swedish)

“Here I Am” Review from Trelleborgsallehanda.se
(Swedish)

Concert review from Östersund
(Swedish)

Concert review from Enköping
(Swedish)

Blues Critic: “Here I Am” 4/5 stars. Link

Fyens Stiftstidene:”Here I Am” 4/6 stars, “Solisternes album”
And there is also an interview with Thorbjørn here: “Stemmelæbernes Rolls Royce”
(Danish)

Nordjyske Stiftstidene: “Here I Am” 4/6 stars, “Den danske King”
(Danish)

Østerbro Avis: “Here I Am” – Her er Thorbjørn

Århus Stiftstidende give 4 stars and writes: “Det er en ren fornøjelse at følge med sangeren, guitaristen og sangskriveren med ud på en sej og svedig tur, der går veloplagt og glad over klassisk rhythm’n’blues, funkede grooves og stemningsfuld 1970er soul”.

“Here I Am” Blues med soulsauce og festfeeling – Jazznyt (DK)

First Review of “Here I AM”
Herlig Dansk Blues – Henning Høeg, BT (DK)

A great review from our consert at Hässleholm Kulturhus (SE) 21/9-07
Download it here

“From The Heart” Review in Nordische Musik (German)

From The Heart Reviewed in German – Musenblätter:
Schwarz, schw ärzer, Risager
Read it here. (German only)

The interview with Thorbjørn from Jazz Special can be downloaded here (Danish only)

“From The Heart” got a great review from Blues Wax
Read it here

Thorbjørn Risager – Nordens bästa bluessångare
From Nerikes Allehanda 2/4 2007
Review from our concert in Hallsberg, Sweden 31/3 2007
Read it here (Swedish)

Blues Critic – March 2007 ****(4/5) (USA)
Sometimes a singer’s voice just stands out and forces you to listen Take one part Ray Charles, one part Bob Seger and one part Joe Cocker and you may have the vocal instrument of Denmark’s Thorbjorn Risager. His “From The Heart” is as auspicious a debut as one could hope for. Actually the band did drop a 2005 live CD but this record is ripe for international applause.
A crunchy guitar riff introduces “Love Turned Cold”, a John Lennon-esque rocker, with Risager bellowing from the back of his throat plus a crisp production by Billy Cross. It’s one of three surefire hits on the record. Track three is the smoldering midtempo Soul/Blues “Burning Up” augmented by Kasper Wagner’s sax and Andreas Biilmann’s trumpet and a catchy guitar hook while track 6 “Heart Of The Night” is a stunning Soul ballad- the kind Ray Charles Used to deliver. Fantastic. All three were written by Risager in addition to the Blues shuffle “You Can Have It Your Way”, the slow blues “Ain’t Gonna Turn My Back On You” and a few others. The band lays down a couple cover tunes for good measure including the classic jump blues “Roll ‘Em Pete” (piano by Emil Balsgaard) and Don Nix’ “Same Old Blues”. Ten tracks without a dud in the bunch, “From The Heart” is sizzling with Soul.

Back To The Roots – Bluesmagazine #58, Dec 2006 (Belgium)

Even though we have put the spotlights on several Scandinavian bands, the name Thorbjörn Risager was totally unknown to me. According to the enclosed press release he should belong to one of the best vocalists in his home country Denmark, with his strong soulful voice. And yes.. we could certainly believe that after listening to this production with 75 % original compositions. The man is really in possession of a powerful, slightly raucous voice which is letting his songs sizzle. On top of this, the present horns could put a solid feather in their hats. Their solid creativity and intensity are providing the candles on this mainly soulflavoured bluescake. But also the well placed and well portioned guitar solos, sometimes reminding quite a bit of Stevie Ray Vaughan, by a certain Svein Erik Martinsen is also adding a nice flavour. Add the impressive production by Billy Cross and you have a brilliantly put together product. It is also difficult, then, to point out peaks, since this record is glowing from beginning to end. And admitted, this is presently rather an exception than a rule. But yes… it’s really coming “From The Heart”!
-Lambert Smits, Back To The Roots – Bluesmagazine

From Blues Twój (Poland)

“The charismatic Thorbjörn Risager holds the reputation of the best Danish vocalists who’s got a voice full of blues and spiritual soul. The essence of today’s Danish blues is Thorbjörn Risager with his band, sounding great in those swaying New Orleans sounds and in straight ahead rhythm’n’blues. SUCH a band would be a major attraction on many Polish blues festivals!
-Andrzej Matysik, Blues Twój

From Blues In Britain (UK)
Thorbjørn has a strong gravelly voice with no hint of an accent and his song writing skills are good with a good understanding of the main style the band operate in. The seven-piece line-up means there is a big full sound. The rhythm section is spot on and solid and all the band members get to step up at some stage. Most of the numbers are short and to the point so there’s no epic soloing, just good tasty breaks when needed. All round a good one, I liked this album a lot. This band is worth investigating and British promoters take note!
Rating 8
-R. Jim Greaves, Blues In Britain

From Blues & Rhythm (UK)
Singer and guitarist Thorbjorn hails from Denmark where he fronts the group ‘Blue 7’, favourites of the Copenhagen blues scene apparently and purveying the sounds of fifties and sixties New Orleans r&b. There is not much of the Crescent City to be heard on this CD (Thorbjorn and the band’s second) but he is a talented singer with a big, rather gruff but surprosingly flexible voice, demonstrating here influences (on vocals and stylistically) from the likes of Big Joe Turner, Robert Cray and Freddie and B.B. King, whilst the opener broadens the range a little by crashing in like ZZ Top and the closer is low-down in a Kim Wilson vein. Some very good original compositions and a fine band make this another very listenable set from mainland Europe.
– Norman Darwen, Blues & Rhythm

Straight on and black (DK)

Phenomenal. Supreme and sensual output from the Danish blues-depth.
It doesn’t sound a bit Danish, and it brings reminders of the old band Chicago and the blues shouters before them. A roaring dark and raw voice, that carries through, a big orchestra sound, an almost incredible precision in the interplay’s smallest details. And it swings like hell!
Thorbjørn Risager and his phenomenal band are getting real big, also internationally, when it comes to rhythm’n blues with a big sound and horns. —
-Jes Rasmussen, Jyske Vestkysten

More than just “blue” (DK)

It’s especially the voice that makes Risager into something special. He’s raw and rusty as a downpipe, and hearing him could even remind you of Joe Cocker himself. And the music is actually also in the same area, which is rock and bluesrock of the melodic and very energetic kind. Even if Risager defines himself as a rhythm & blues singer, there’s also plenty of rock & roll in the songs.
-Steffen Lange, Midtjyllands Avis

Blues from the heart (DK)
It’s understandable that Thorbjørn Risager’s voice has been called one of Denmark’s best, when you hear how it is developing on his second CD. There is really some depth and power hidden in it, when he brings out his songs, which range from the classical bluesy to soulful r’n’b.— The sound is pleasantly warm, which suits last year’s Danish blues artist brilliantly.
-Simon Staun, Fyens Stifttidende

BluesNews, Oct 2006 www.blues-germany.de (Germany)

What can the listener expect? Well, first of all a breath-taking voice. Risager is in possession of a “killer voice” and he knows how to use it, especially in the up-tempo songs, but thanks to its enormous range it’s also absolutely convincing in the soul-oriented numbers.
Risager’s organ is distinguished through power, volume, expression and perfect intonation  – his voice is more than just getting attention, it’s dominating the whole album. So far, so good, yes even excellent.
-Karl Leitner

CONCERTO, Sept 2006 www.concerto.at (Austria)
Rooted in 50’s and 60’s R’n’B, with a strong shot of New Orleans and soul, this group, which also includes two horns, develops enormous pressure. Risager’s strong, absolutely accent-free voice is powerfully moving somewhere between Delbert McClinton und David Clayton-Thomas (now and then, the horn section is also bringing reminders of Blood, Sweat & Tears) and is influencing the sound deeply. An unbelivably nice organ! Risager is furthermore proving to be a competent guitarist, and above all an excellent songwriter. The group is also displaying its fine swingfeeling more than once. But here again, the impressive vocal chords of the bandleader are in the center of attention. Don’t miss this!
-Dietmar Hoscher