As the singer/songwriter/guitarist and driving force behind NYC funk-rockers One & Twenty, CAROL THOMAS led an ever-changing collection of top-notch musicians ( John Hickey from George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic); Mike Bloom from Rilo Kiley; Jon Chazen from Wigjam; Tara Lynne and Matt Turk ) through the East Coast music scene. Her years with the band had her traveling the Northeast; and sharing the stage with Toshi Reagon, Antigone Rising, Fighting Gravity, Once Blue and Patti Rothberg. But since 2003, she's been a solo artist sporting a more stripped down sound highlighting lyrics deep from her heart and soul; and a powerful voice that grabs you like a cold slap.
Carol's music is personal and compelling. As a singer/songwriter/guitarist, she seeks connection and inspires conversation. Her songcraft combines thoughtful and revealing lyrics with melodic chord progressions. She drinks in the world around her and the result is involving and relevant music with soul and conscience. The cornerstones of her sound are her honesty, her passion, an amazing set of pipes and a pinch of rock 'n roll badass bravado. She has found simplicity and beauty in the voice and the word that haunts and beguiles the listener. Accused of conjuring Grace Slick, Bessie Smith, Janis Joplin and Nina Simone, her voice wraps a delicate beauty around the emotional power of her lyrics. Accompanied by a variety of musicians (keyboardist Matt Iselin , acoustic bassist Scott Thornton , drummer Jason Isaac , and multi-instrumentalist Dave Edwards ), the arrangements always seek to elevate the song and the voice.
Carol's commitment to the creative extends past her own work. In 2001 and 2002, she was one of the primary organizers of Ladyfest East; a 4-day, multi-venue, multi-media event dedicated to promoting and encouraging female artists. Other highlights of her career have been; being a finalist in the 1998 Lilith Fair Talent Search (Antigone Rising won that year); sharing a bill with Jeff Buckley (during her stint playing with Matt Turk); and touring in London in early 2004. Carol has also been a member of ASCAP since 2000.
CAROL THOMAS is not everyday...not ordinary. She's a artist who is all woman. She turns herself inside out to share with the listener in such clear tones you'll never be able to un-ring the bell. And these days, that makes her a rare, simply elegant gem.
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