Tom Walbank: Vox, Harp, Melodica & Guitar
Mike Bagesse: Guitar
Dimitri Manos: Drums
Influences
John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Sonny Terry, Rory Mcleod, Mark Feltham, Jimmy Reed, Hound Dog Taylor, Robert Nighthawk, Big Joe Williams, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Dr.Ross, John Hammond, Lightnin’ Slim, J.B. Hutto, Jesse Mae Hemphill, Elmore James, Robert Johnson, Joe Hill Louis,Slim Harpo
Born in 1969 Englishman Tom Walbank discovered blues at fifteen after seeing John Lee Hooker briefly on film.Studying the harmonica stylings of Sonny Terry he spent many a year performing in the bars of Edinburgh Scotland with STEVE O CONNOR .Spent five years in the San Francisco Blues ,after which he continued his journey to Tucson Arizona where he started playing and plying the welcoming Pueblo scene with Mr DOUG SMITH. HE THEN HOOKED UP WITH HIS CURRENT ENSEMBLE,Mr.Bagesse and Mr,Manos AKA the AMBASSADORS. .Bands opened for include Rod Piazza,Tommy Castro,Exene Cervenka,Dick Dale ,Bob Log 3,Holly Golightly,The Moaners,Robert Belfour ,T Model Ford,Paul Jones,Calexico,Giant Sand,Neko Case,Greg Allman, Buck 65,The Legendary Shack Shakers WINNERS OF THE 2005 ARIZONA BLUES SHOWDOWN winners of Tucson music awards 2006 Best Musicianship CRITICS CHOICE AWARD and Best Blues band READERS AWARD 2006 BEST LIVE PERFORMER 2007 ’ ’Walbank has an amazing feel for the Blues,which he plays raw and howling,with heart’’ ---No Depression magazine ’ ’ ’’Tom Walbank opened up for Greg Allman,I haven’t seen such a great harmonica player in my life.When was the last time you saw an opening act recieve a standing ovation?’’---Arizona Daily Star
’’ Thanks for keepin’ it going!’’ - Phil Wiggins
’’ If you could bottle their energy,you could power a decent sized barrio for a week.’’ -Tucson Weekly
SLIDE GUITARIST,HARP PLAYER AND SINGER TOM WALBANK’S JOURNEY HAS TAKEN HIM FROM ENGLAND TO SCOTLAND,SAN FRANCISCO AND NOW TO TUCSON,BUT HIS RAW BLUES PLACES HIM SONICALLY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE DELTA AND CHICAGO.A TWO GUITAR AND DRUMS LINE UP GIVES TOM WALBANK AND THE AMBASSADORS THE IDEAL FOUNDATION FOR REINVENTING THE LOW- DOWN SOUNDS OF EARLY ELECTRIC BLUES,AN AMBITION INDICATED BY THE TITLE OF MUDHOOK VOL.II[ROCKNROLL PURGATORY 016].’’HOWLIN TOMCAT’’ RECALLS J.B. HUTTO’S MOST SLASHING SIDES,THE STARK ’’2 STEPS FROM THE GUTTER’’CHANNELS HOOKER [DIG THE WAY THE NOTES OOZE OUT OF THE AMPLIFIER],AND ’’RAINCLOUD WOMAN’’ IS AS DOOMY AS ANY LIGHTNIN SLIM CUT.’’Tom Hyslop--- BLUES REVUE MAGAZINE APR/MAY 2006 ISSUE
Tom Walbank and the Ambassadors's Friend Space (Top 23)
Un disco tributo a Bob Dylan realizado por algunas de las mejores bandas nacionales e internacionales del momento. Una oportunidad única e irrepetible para observar como suenan las canciones del bardo de Hibbing en las voces de algunos artistas irrepetibles. Blues, Folk, Country, Rockabilly, Pop….Sin límites de estilos. Haciendo lo que les apetece. Sin renunciar a los clásicos pero tampoco basándose sólo en ellos. 22 bandas homenajeando a una de las figuras claves para entender el rock del siglo XX. En la producción han participado los propios grupos, Álex Vivero y Blind Joe's de Blind Records. Editado por Hanky Panky Records y Smile Producciones cuenta con el apoyo de Ruta 66. Para no perdérselo...
Thank you for the addition. Please pass along any incidents you or your friends might tell about crappy new creepy stuff happening around the arts district. Like tickets and creepy police following you around everywhere you go all the time no mater what time of the day or where you are... sorry
Fantastic "King Bee" chalk drawing for the Madonnari chalk festival Tom! That bee is really intense. Next year get a big sombrero for the sun. I will see your chalk art every day when I go to the library - it is brilliant! MJA Mary
Hey! I just flew into Tucson and will be at Club Congress tonight for Maya's free show! Door sopen 7PM! Hope to see you and all my Tucson friends. I'll only be here a week!
Hey tom. Thanks for chess gig.. I really appreciated your sound and line up. Too bad to see you only my last afternoon in tucson. Im back in home in the cold weather but your music is in my mind with the arizona'sun.. See you in august.
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