Bios

Thousands of One is:

The Touring Collective

Jhakeem Haltom - Lead Vocals
Brent Eva - Bass
Joel Blizzard - Drums
Mark Wienand - Saxophone
Chad Lieberman - Keyboard
Jake "J-Rob" Roberts  - Guitar

The Homebody Collective

Tom Sayers - Guitar, song writer
Will Sapp - Back up vocals
Will Patterson - percussion

The mission and its history

A band born to change society through music, Thousands of One core members' first gig was in a maximum security youth prison. At one point, lead singer, Jhakeem Haltom gave the mic to one of the inmates who let his voice be heard. It was a defining moment for the band.

Conscious music, revolution sounds, liberation time!

Something deep happens when dedication to social change meets the burning desire to make amazing music. We give thanks for being alive! We give thanks that we can travel this beautiful road! We give thanks for a million things, and do our human best to put it into music.

This is the essence of Thousands of One - to build connections between people and live inspired lives, striving to bring that inspiration into the world around us.

Gaining notoriety for their spirited live shows throughout the nation, Thousands of One jumps from activist/retro soul - think Olu Dara or Marvin Gaye - to cross Atlantic afrobeat/funk jams as in Fela Kuti meets James Brown- to underground Hiphop a la The Roots or Talib Kweli with a funk rock edge.

Before joining forces as Thousands of One, group members graced projects across the musical spectrum from Hiphop to rock and reggae, jazz, Motown, Full Gospel, West African drumming, Middle Eastern Arabic and even Nashville country.

The collective assembled around a weekly jam known as Steppers Lounge, held weekly for one year in the fertile music scene of Trumansburg, New York. In a miraculous movement that is unparalleled in stories of young bands, within a year of naming the band, Thousands of One was able to build itself a massive following in and around Ithaca. Coupling ridiculous dance parties with social movements concerning the eradication of racism, sustainability and reestablishing connection to the source, they live by the intention that music is a powerful vehicle for change.

Thousands of One has made 4 national tours in 2 years that all hit the west coast. They flew to Hawaii in 2006 for 8 incredible concerts that are still in the memories of fans who, to this day, request a return trip. Thousands of One recently began a national radio campaign with the album "SoulForce" through the Planetary Group that has caught the attention of hundreds of radio stations throughout the U.S. National Distribution of "SoulForce" is being managed by Leeway's Homegrown Network who will see that the album reaches the hands of countless people.

The Sound

All agree that seeing Thousands of One perform live is where it's at, though they say it isn't about "seeing" the band...When you attend a Thousands of One concert, it's more like "being" the band.

The vocals of Jhakeem Haltom have left audiences captivated. His ability to transition smoothly between searing conscious Hiphop verse, soulful melodic choruses, preaching the gospel, embarking on spontaneous trance-induced operatic themes and at times that of a tonal instrument devoid of words, yet sounding something like a cross between an Indian flute and a kora, is a journey unto itself. The instrumentation uses an intensely dynamic balance of both tasteful scarcity and busyness, driven by the incredibly adept bass and drum section, Brent Eva and Joel Blizzard respectively, who convey with ferocious devotion, the deepest and heaviest rhythms possible, to demand that people dance. Every song is peppered with catchy hooks hanging around every corner that linger on. The players are seasoned listeners, able to bring out the subtle awesomeness that music can be! Mark Wienand, on tenor, soprano, baritone sax and flute, stands out as one of those rare horn players that can carry the energy of a three-part section and solo with a voice that is equal to the singer. Never ceasing to reinterpret an arrangement or an established riff in order to reach the audience, while maintaining loyalty to the voicing of the song work, THOUSANDS OF ONE are charismatic and engaging performers, capable of playing anywhere from your living room to an arena.

The Culture

The time has come when borders and boundaries are facing simultaneous degradation and reinforcement. While peace as a way of life, is becoming a world ideal, a standard that the mainstream is embracing, wars are being fought with intensified fury as nations compete for resources or the settling of age-old family fueds.

In this time, our most important resource is the culture of our communities. Communities take many forms, from the bond of the family unit, outward to internet communications. This is the time for us to reach out. Strangers become familiar with just a smile.

Music is a vehicle by which many communities can find one another. Throughout history this is evident. From ancient times, villages were identified by the sound of the the music they played, stories and myths were passed down from one generation to the next through song, whole cultures have been born and died and music is always present to usher these changes.

THOUSANDS OF ONE is a musical vehicle: one of the many catalysts through which we may all arrive in a state of realized culture, a place where families can meet one another and find support there, where people may uplift their heartbeat and their spirits after dancing all night, a culture through which economic and moral support for social programs and projects can be derived.

The First Album

Their ambitious Fall 2005 release on Ithaca, NY indie I-Town Records self- titled "Thousands of One", has been warmly received by critics and fans alike for its classic soul meets funk electro-remix sound.

Recorded at Shut-in Studios, Producer Elliot Martin combined his love of space age synth and analog knobs with a loyalty to the band's eclectic live sound. Also vocalist - songwriter - producer of internationally acclaimed Roots Reggae band John Brown's Body, Martin contributes harmony vocals and percussion on several tracks. The result is a work of art that explores uncharted sonic textures.

Influences? Listen closely and you might hear the echoes of teenage years spent singing in Mississippi church choirs, the frenetic funk of a New Years Eve party while Maceo Parker & Fred Wesley rocked the house; and utmost respect and admiration for legendary artists from Ella Fitzgerald and Willie Nelson to Black Star and KRS-1.

"'Thousands of One' is a journey. It is a social commentary, yes, a funkdefied dance party that will move your body til it cant no mo, as well; an inquiry to the soul, calling out for roots, love and culture. Music with a mission!"

The debut CD features performances by:
Jordan Aceto represents the Sim Redmond Band (I-Town/Buffalo Records - Japan)
Elliot Martin, of John Brown's Body adds vocals, tamborine, synth, moog, and arrangement.
Jay Spaker of J-San & the Analogue Sons (I-Town)
Lucente Sisters of Five-2 (ITown) lend their harmonies on several tracks.
Maurice Haltom Afro-Percussion master, father of vocalist Jhakeem Haltom and former member of Tower of Power.

Production / Alchemy:
Elliot Martin: engineering and production
Pyramid Sound/Alex Perialas: Mastered through analog tube, tapes and digital
EQ. Alex is a veteran of projects from Anthrax to Missy Elliot & Ginuwine.

The second album "SoulForce"

Thousands of One have released their second CD "SoulForce" on I-Town Records. Featuring a vocal collaboration with Speech of the Grammy-award winning group Arrested Development and production and performances by Elliot Martin of John Brown’s Body, SoulForce captures the spirit and energy of the band’s live performances while adding a subtle layer of space age sound and rhythm. The result is a work of art that explores a new musical identity—a defining statement from a group whose sole purpose in creating music is to reflect the process of social improvement by starting from within, hence the title SoulForce.

Collaboration with Speech from Arrested Development began at the 2007 Grassroots Festival of Music and Dance, where the band met Speech and shared their love of promoting cultural unity, ending racism and imperialism, and working with youth through the creation of socially conscious, uplifting music. Speech says of working with Thousands of One, “I love supporting people who are doing good works. You’re doing good things … Let’s be family.”

In the spirit of the "Funk Movement", the edutainment of real Hiphop and the firm belief that music can move mountains, this album is "the message" of Thousands of One - it speaks of ending racism, growing food, and creating unity. Turning heads with intense lyrics, incendiary politics, spiritual tenacity, wit and dope phrasing - the soul and voice of Jhakeem Haltom bolstered by a rocking and raw band cutting a deep original groove that pays tribute to the roots of soul, funk and reggae... Thousands of One mixes all these influences in a truly unique fusion with Hiphop, gospel, electronica, afrobeat, rock and dub. Lead vocalist Jhakeem Haltom can turn a phrase whether singing falsetto a la Marvin Gaye or spitting verse like KRS-One. He has been easily compared to Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan’s Donald Fagen, Talib Kweli and none other than Bob Marley. Heavy drum and bass buoy socially conscious lyrics, while the saxophone performances of Mark Wienand evoke pristine soundscapes. Guitar player Safak Ozkan, born and raised in Turkey, spent his youth playing in a rebel rock band, as well as playing the Oud (a traditional middle eastern stringed instrument). Safak has brought an incredible vibe to the crew as they venture into new fields of sound. The album features intricate and subtle Hammond B3, Rhodes, piano and Clavinet musicianship from the maestro of the boards Chad Lieberman, who has recently signed on with the TOO orchestra.