Who is Peer Steen Mortensen ?

I am a Musician, Media Graphic Designer and Photographer with a great interest in Africa. I live in Copenhagen, Denmark, but I also have strong connections to other parts of the world, in particular Africa where some of my friends originate from.

I have been employed in Kyhl Reklame as a media graphic designer and lay outer. I produced graphic design for the company’s costumers such as rolling barrier board commercials, press walls, and banners to the world of sports. Everything graphic for fairs, electric signs, car stickers, web design and other smaller graphic design products.

I have been employed in the healthcare company Novo Nordisk in Bagsværd, Denmark as a Graphic Designer and working freelance with various graphic design projects, among them projects for companies like amuseic, Amager Fiskehus, Thaimport and Njal Foto. I became a Media Graphic Designer in February 2006 with the focus on the production of web design and graphic design. I felt the need to change direction and decided to challenge myself and become a Media Graphic Designer. You can view my portfolio if you should be interested in my graphic design work, or here in Danish at Graphic Solution.

Through my music interest and my blues band Chicago Blues Cruise which I am the leader of, I am used to making decisions and following them through, as well as being the project manager when we participate in big arrangements as for example AmCham Denmark, held at the American Ambassadors private residence in Rydhave.

I negotiate the price with the client, and the subsuppliers such as sound engineer, horn section, logistics, stage, tent, and other needs relevant for the project. I also do the booking to ensure future clients and concerts. Being the front man in Chicago Blues Cruise has given me a lot of experience in addressing a big crowd of people and delivering a message as well as entertaining and captivating an audience.

I began playing the trombone when I was 8 years old, at Ishøj music school and changed to the bass trombone a few years later. I have played with people like Poul Rosenbaum, Ole Koch Hansen, Thad Jones, Debbie Cameron and Sanne Salomonsen before she really got famous. I played trombone in many different bands such as brass bands, big bands, trombone groups, and styles such as classical, marches, jazz, blues, funk and soul.

I participated in building up the Gospel choir "Sound Of Gospel" in "The Church of Christ" in Baggesensgade on Nørrebro. I sang tenor for quite some years in the choir, and we performed several concerts with Etta Cameron.

In February 1997 I formed a blues band called Chicago Blues Cruise formerly known as "Take It Home", and we played a few concert's in Helsingør, Roskilde and Copenhagen. But due to different opinions on the goals, we all went in different directions. But I couldn't give up that easy, so I reformed the band in co-operation with the piano player, ( Michael Meyer ) and got some new musicians in the band, and with lots of hard work we finally got the new Chicago Blues Cruise.

I am the lead singer of Chicago Blues Cruise and I play the guitar as well, both rhythm and lead. I used to have a Gibson Lucille guitar similar to the one B.B.King plays, but I sold it and bought the Fender US Tele guitar instead, since I found it easier to play and give me the sound I like and prefer. I use the Fender Hot Rod Deluxe Amplifier that gives me the necessary drive to emphasize my sound and playing style.

Chicago Blues Cruise has now become a Big City Blues Band in cooperation with a horn section. The rhythm section is complete, and the cooperating horn section consist of a Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Trumpet and a Trombone.

"Chicago Blues Cruise" play Chicago Blues by Otis Rush, Albert King, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters. Texas Blues by Freddie King, Albert Collins, Stevie Ray Vaughan and T-Bone Walker as well as Vocal Jazz/Philly Soul by Lou Rawls, West coast Blues by Percy Mayfield and finally Soul Blues/Motown Soul by Johnny Adams and Wilson Pickett among others.

Chicago Blues Cruise is a Copenhagen-based Urban blues band, that plays danceable blues with lots of musical energy!

The recipe is a charming show band performing with shiny instruments, big smiles and plenty a twinkle in the eye.

The menu consists of a generous portion "Blues Gumbo"; from Chicago Blues through Texas Blues to Vocal Jazz/Philly Soul piquantly spiced with a little Motown Soul.

Served in exciting combinations; from 5 - 9 instruments depending on the arrangement, economy or stage size – but always served with intense conviction!

If you want to contact me please use my contact page. You can also visit me in www.myspace.com/peersteenmortensen or on FaceBook.