Emil Balsgaard is a Copenhagen-based pianist and keyboardist, best known as a core member of Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado - a Danish eight-piece blues and roots-rock outfit that has won four Danish Music Awards and taken home prizes at the European Blues Awards and the German Schallplattenkritik. His keyboard palette spans piano, organ, Wurlitzer, clavinet and Farfisa. Alongside the band, he and Risager have worked as a duo for around 30 years, tracing back to their shared time in the New Orleans blues 'n' funk band Rad Gumbo, and have released three duo albums together.
Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado - with Balsgaard on organ and keys - releases the live album Live At Hotel Cecil on June 19, 2026 via Provogue/Artone, recorded at a sold-out concert on November 29, 2025.
Dexter in Odense has announced a duo concert with Risager and Balsgaard on September 2, 2026.
Music House Brønshøj in Copenhagen has likewise booked Risager & Balsgaard Duo for September 3, 2026.
The Black Tornado released the studio album House of Sticks on January 31, 2025 via Provogue/Mascot Label Group - the band's ninth studio album, recorded in Copenhagen in 2024.
DR P5 played Balsgaard and Risager's duo track "The Way You Make Me Feel" on May 16, 2025.
Blues musician Thorbjørn Risager and pianist Emil Balsgaard perform as a duo, celebrating 27 years of collaboration with their new album 'Taking The Good With The Bad'.
Thorbjørn Risager and Emil Balsgaard perform blues, funk and boogie with Caribbean and delta-grooves at BRØK.
