Leave A Message - Electronic Press Kit

Leave A Message (LAM) is a music-mediation initiative that aims to build community connections through group meditation, conversation, and the documentation of audio "messages" left by participants. Our mission is to provide highly accessible offerings that create the context for inward exploration along with opportunities to share what was discovered.

Live Performance Video Samples

Where are we coming from?

The idea for Leave A Message began when Jay Taylor and Sam Thousand began meeting up improvise together both musically and conceptually. These sessions were eye opening for both Jay and Sam because of their unique paths that had led them into the collaboration. At that time Jay was 5 years into his second career as a sound meditation facilitator and educator having led thousands of meditations with singing bowls and gongs. Sam was far deeper into his career having taken a more traditional path into the world of music starting trumpet at age 7 and expanding from there into multiple instruments/voice and ultimately expanding into the world of entertainment as a band leader, composer, and curator. Together they had over 15 years of experience in building programing and community, and in offering live music experiences in an array of settings. Through their individual and shared strengths and their unique perspectives on both the wellness and entertainment spaces the concept for Leave A Message was born.

The first Leave A Message experience took place in March 2023. Since that time LAM has been offered many times around the city allowing the offering to be honed and fully fleshed out. LAM most notably partnered with the Logan Center for the Arts to offer two separate 3-part series. Sessions have also been held at 21C Museum + Hotel, The Robey, Altar Community, Lincoln Park Zoo, Pagoda Red, and Little Black Pearl. Additionally, Sam and Jay have contributed music (without the message component) in accompaniment to wellness programming at Navy Pier and Millennium Park.

Click the following links to learn more about Sam Thousand and Jay Taylor.