Tom Walbank: Vox, Harp, Melodica & Guitar
Mike Bagesse: Guitar
Dimitri Manos: Drums
Influences
John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Sonny Terry, Rory Mcleod, Mark Feltham, Sugar Blue, 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 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 scene, after which he continued his journey in to Tucson, Arizona where he started playing with DOUG SMITH. He then hooked up with Mike Bagesse and Dimitri Manos aka the AMBASSADORS who have toured extensively in the U.S. and overseas. 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- Best Musicianship CRITICS CHOICE AWARD , BEST LIVE PERFORMER 2007, BEST BLUES BAND 2002, 2006, 2008 and 2009 ARIZONA BLUES HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE 2009 ' '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
" Keep Swinging!" - Sugar Blue
'' 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 33)
Great picture my friend! hope everything is doing well with you...I saw you'll be playing at IBC again this year!!! GREAT!!! You are my favorite...like in 2006...you know that... hug and all the BEST marco
Excessive brotherly pride in your new status as famous Inductee. I've never had a brother who is an Inductee before. It is quite fine to have such a thing. Please continue, oh famous one...
thank you sire.... you the king of good sounds far as we're concerned. Even the folks who are excitedly looking forward to seeing you up here soon have no idea what they're in for. As Muddy says in "Evan's Shuffle", ..... "All-right ...all-right...all-right...all-right!"
Will Scott's new album, GNAWBONE is here!!! The CD is available at CDBaby and other online retailers.
Over three years in the making, GNAWBONE, is Scott's fully-produced studio debut and features a crack team of hand-picked musicians as well as guest performances by Jan Bell, Jolie Holland, Samantha Parton, and Preacher Boy (the album's producer).
Hey TOM !!!!!!! Thanks for the amazing show, you are the best dude.... More pics are coming tomorrow man..... Thanks for the cd, he is really awful, i love it !!!! Have a good fuckin'night, and see you soon i hope my friend....
that's right bro'...or at least they were new once...have a more brutal electric version of it, by the way. tryin' to find the time to do some treatment to liverecordings we have laying around. Tucson gettin' hot yet? AP (with love)
Online Now!
