Biography

The Jelly Roll Men – Jelly Roll Shuffle

The Jelly Roll Men are on a mission. They want to the bring old-school blues to everybody out there. The band earned a solid reputation for beings a great live act and a real crowd-pleaser. Make no mistake. In spite of their stage antics, these guys take their music seriously hey don’t play old-school blues to be different, they play it because it’s in their soul – and they are playing it just like it’s like it’s supposed to be played.
The band was started by the two brothers – Kent Erik and Thomas Grim Thorvaldsen – seven years ago as “The Nine Fingers Blues Band” until they recently decided to change their name to something a bit more appropriate for the style of music they play. They have worked with the likes Joakim Tinderholt, Tommy Moberg (Trickbag) and Ronni Boysen (the Kokomo Kings).
I also had the pleasure to play with them and -we did a little tour together- and I reckon they are a pretty solid combo and fun guys to be on the road with. They really sounded good playing my songs, but they sounded even better playing their stuff. I was truly humbled when they asked me to produce their debut record and be their musical “consigliere.” I did not take this as a joke and I worked them hard for weeks before recording the album you are holding and even harder during the recording session.
Hard work pays off and I reckon I’m very pleased with the result. This album not only captures the spirit of all the great 1950’s blues recordings. It also SOUNDS just like it!
-Little Victor producer and musician

The Jelly Roll Men
The Jelly Roll Men are on a mission! They want to the bring old-school blues to everybody out there. They band earned a solid reputation for beings a great live act and a real crowd-pleaser. Make no mistake. In spite of their stage antics, these guys take their music seriously. They don't play old-school blues to be different, they play it because it's in their soul. Their debut album "Jelly Roll Shuffle" -produced by award-winner producer and musician Little Victor -who also guests on the record- features the most authentic 1950's blues sounds.
The band was started by the Thorvaldsen brothers (Kent Erik and Thomas Grim) back in 2010 as "The Nine Fingers Blues Band" until they recently decided to successfully change their name into "The Jelly Roll Men" -something more appropriate for the music they play. This outfit is one of the hardest working blues bands in Scandinavia and one of few that plays this music like it's supposed to be played. They have worked with Joakim Tinderholt, Tommy Moberg (Trickbag), Little Victor and Ronni Boysen (Kokomo Kings).
Frontman, singer and harp player Kent Erik Thorvaldsen started to play harmonica in 2009 His biggest influences are Muddy Waters, Big Walter Horton, Little Walter, John Brim. He started the band "Nine Fingers" with his brother Thomas and they played their first gig in 2010 first gig together He became a singer when his brother decided to focus more on his guitar playing.
Thomas Grim Thorvaldsen first started to play drums, before switching to guitar. Just like his brother, he started to play blues in 2009. He was the original singer in the Nine Fingers Blues Band. He still sings but he leaves most of the vocal duties to Kent. He loves the old blues stuff and his favorite guitar player is Lightning Hopkins.
Veteran drummer Kai Evans (nee' Evanstuen) played in in many different bands in the past 20 years -as the Hennessy Blues Band - before joining forces with Kent Erik and Thomas. He loves old school blues music.-especially the classic Chicago style and vintage drum kits. He cites Fred Below and Sam Lay as two of his biggest influences on drums.
Upright bass player "Big"Martin Rosten-who also plays electric bass- is the newest member of the band. He played his first show in a blues band at the age of 17. He backed up heavy hitters such as Lazy Lester, James Harman and Otis Grand. His main influences on bass are Willie Dixon and Keith Fergusson. He likes to listen to Muddy Waters, BB King, Little Walter and Johnny Guitar Watson among others.