Live From Death Row
Self-Released, 2025
9/10
This is the first live album recorded by an artist on death row who awaits execution, and it was documented in front of a sold out audience at ShapeShifter Plus in Brooklyn, where Keith LaMar and Albert Marqués bring their inimitable skills.
“Woke Up This Morning (With My Mind Stayed On Freedom)” starts the listen with Nia Drummond’s powerful pipes stirring the soul, and “The Journey” follows with Zack O’Farrill’s fluid drums alongside Milena Casado’s warm flute and LaMar’s spoken word that calls for justice.
Further along, “Transformation” pairs Drummond’s stunning voice with Marqués’ elegant keys via the lush climate that picks up speed near the end, while “On, Living” meshes the saxophones and keys with gentle versus busy bouts alongside LaMar’s eloquent words.
Close to the end, “The Drowned And The Saved” presents LaMar’s story amid the poetic keys, and “Truth” exits with acrobatic drums, soaring winds, Keyanna Hutchinson’s flowing guitar and Matthew Garrison’s well timed bass for the layered and exciting finish.
LaMar is 30+ years into his sentence and is firm that he is innocent. He performs his art in real-time from a phone at the Ohio State Penitentiary, and this spoken word poetry set to timeless jazz and playful improvisation is both captivating and enlightening.
Travels well with: Triology- The Slow Road; Paul Hecht- Pyrography