Keith Lamar vocals, Albert Marquès piano, Erin Corine vocals & flute, Manel Fortià, double bass, Marc Ayza drums.

The Afro-American poet, writer and activist Keith Lamar has been on death row for 27 years for a crime he swears he did not commit and for which he was convicted in a trial full of irregularities.  Far from crumbling, though, Lamar has survived all these years cultivating his great passion: jazz. Two years ago now, the Catalan pianist Albert Marquès, a resident of New York and one of the great names on our jazz scene, began a campaign in support of Keith Lamar, “Freedom First”, which gave rise to an album including great jazz names from New York and from Spain: Roy Nathanson, the O’Farrill dynasty, Marc Ayza, Manel Fortià and a long list of others. Keith Lamar was also involved, reciting his own texts. The album includes pieces by artists Keith Lamar listens to in his cell, such as Coltrane, Freddie Hubbard and Jason Moran. “Freedom First” is a song for freedom and against the death penalty. Music and commitment to open Mas i Mas ‘22 at the Jamboree.