Biography

 

Tom Mansi & The Icebreakers are Paul ‘Iceman’ White on guitar, Alain Man on keys, James ‘The Engine Room’ Johnston on drums and Tom Mansi on upright bass, guitar and lead vocals.

Born in North London in 1979 on the same day that Charles Mingus died Mansi has developed a wealth of music and life experience playing gigs in theatre pits, jazz clubs and studio sessions for artists as diverse as the Sugababes and Coldcut.

Most recently Tom played a North American tour with Scottish folk legend Donovan and surreal filmmaker David Lynch which bizarrely combined music with lectures on Transcendental Meditation and World Peace.

Tom Mansi & the Icebreakers debut album ‘Love on the rails’ is a mix of edgy rock and roll, country and blues. Tom’s low, rumbling growl of a voice accompanied by the Icebreaker’s razor sharp guitar, 60’s organ stabs and rumbling drums.

The blues forms the core of Mansi’s lyrics. Inspired by dark corners of the bars, clubs, hotels and theatres he plays as a professional bassist. Drawing on the Blues lyrical subject matter and preferring to write in the early morning with a mild hangover.

Tom Mansi & the Icebreakers met in a local North London youth big band over eight years ago, they have been playing in various jazz, boogie woogie and rock n’ roll outfits ever since. The album was recorded in their own studios based in High Barnet, North London.

Tom Mansi & the Icebreakers debut album ‘Love on the rails’ is released on Kartel on the 25 February 2008.