A parade of San Quentin musicians entertained about 100 inmates while honoring the late folksinger Audrey Auld, a favorite performer at the prison.
“She opened up her heart; she brought her music. She was amazing!” guitarist Richie Morris said of Auld.
“Audrey’s final performance at San Quentin was the performance of a life- time—the show to top all shows. She left exhilarated. It’s an example of the healing power of music,” said Lisa Starbird of the music organization Bread & Roses.
Audrey Auld, commenting about that night: “If I died in my darling’s arms today, I would be the happiest woman knowing that I have succeeded in connecting with those men in such a true way. I am so touched by their heartfelt statements of connection and acknowledgement.”
Starbird welcomed the crowd and promised high- caliber music—after a video tribute to Australian folk singer/musician/songwriter Auld.
The Sunday night concert showcased in-house musicians in a tour-de-force of jazz, blues, funk, pop, R&B, rap and rock ’n’ roll.
Starbird told the San Quentin News that Auld brought her heart, soul, and talent into San Quentin to collaborate with incarcerated talent.
“Inmate musicians wrote lines that Audrey weaved together into songs.” Auld recorded their songs, including “Hey Warden” and “I Am Not What I Have Done” in Nashville and produced the CD in 2015. The music is available for loan in the San Quentin Catholic Chapel loaning library (on CD) and for purchase through Walkenhorst and online.
Tower of Power song accompanied by the “oohs” of the back up singers: Jason Griffin with Paul Comauex and Tony O’Neil from music group NSF. The crowd roared.
“She opened up her heart; she brought her music. She was amazing!”
The final number by Just Us, “Rejuvenation /Play That Funky Music White Boy,” burst the audience into ovation.
The solo act hip hopper “Flame” took the stage next. After a sound check, he rapped, “Ease the Pain,” then sang—a cappella—“Your Love Is Like Magic” into an R&B groove.
Gino & Friends filled the stage next, featuring Gino Sevacos on lead vocals and guitar, Mark Kinney on keyboards and vocals, and Jaspar on bass. Liam Atkins on cajon, Dwight Krizman on drums, and Chris Thomas on mandolin completed the sextet.
They played three conscious awareness songs, beginning with “Planet Love.” Gino introduced their second song, “We learn to love each other…diversity is what I like about our country.” The crowd of inmates was fired up as the band moved into its final piece, featuring “too busy to connect…” in the lyrics.
The final act was Quentin Blue, featuring three guitarists: Richie Morris on acoustic guitar, Chris Koppe on lead electric guitar, and Dwight Krizman on bass. Mark Kinney on keyboards, Liam Atkins on percussion, and Thomas on mandolin completed the group of six.
Quentin Blue began its set with “I’d Send You Home to Mama.” Morris then introduced their next piece by telling the audience, “Music is an opportunity to do something beneficial for the outside —beyond the wall.” The song, “Upward I Fall,” was a peaceful, more tranquil style, reminiscent of Guns N’ Roses’ “Patience.”
The final Spanish-sound- ing number, “Baby I Knew You Were Leaving Me,” got the audience rockin’ again. The “Olé” ending triggered applause, but signaled the end of the concert— just in time for lock-up.
Here are comments about Audrey Auld from those present: Gino Sevacos – “I knew her for 10 years. I was there for her first visit—cool, collaborative writing. Audrey was friendly, fearless, like a breath of fresh air.”
Lee Jaspar – “Her biggest impression was her willingness to bring what she loved—her music and her friendship—into this institution and make us part of her family.”
Charles Ross – “She was always warm-hearted and smiling. It’s an honor to be picked to play in her memory.”
Comments on the in-house talent concert: Chris Thomas – “This is a great venue to showcase the rehabilitation, dedication, and drive to be better people.”
Jeffrey Atkins – “It’s so nice of Lisa to showcase the in-house talent.”
Inmate in audience – “It’s always good—you always get your money’s worth around here.”
Lee Jaspar – “It was good. The evening went off really well. Thanks to Lisa—she gives tirelessly.”
Tom Lapinski of the Through The Bars Foundation – “Enjoyed watching all these musicians mixing into different bands. It was great!”
Lisa Starbird – “A wonderful success…a lot of fun having the diversity of music.”
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Bread & Roses bringing music into San Quentin State Prison. They are a nonprofit organization that sponsors volunteer music events, including about one each month inside San Quentin.
is available for loan in the San Quentin Catholic Chapel loaning library (on CD) and for purchase through Walkenhorst and online.
“Audrey came back home from Nashville because she got cancer,” Starbird said. “She died in 2015, about a month after her last performance in San Quentin.”
“In Loving Memory—We Love You 2015,” began the video featuring Auld’s folk music performance with Pam Delgado and Jeri Jones on the San Quentin Day of Peace on the prison recreation yard in April 2015. “I love you like the storm, I love you like the sea, I love you like the birds that are flying free,” Auld sang in her peace sign tie-dye t-shirt. The audience applauded the video.
Then the live music by five groups of San Quentin musicians began.
Jazz and Friends, featuring Lee “Jazz” Jaspar on electric guitar, got the crowd moving. Dwight Krizman on drums and Mark Kinney on key- boards completed the jazz trio. They began with “Impressions” by John Coltrane, followed by Jaspar singing the bluesy jazz number “Gee Baby.” Their finale, “Well You Needn’t,” energized the audience, responding with cheers.
Next up was the group Just Us featuring Jeffrey Atkins on keyboards and vocals, Charles Ross on drums, Lynn “Funky” Walker on bass and Liam “Lee” Atkins on electric guitar. They began with the ’80s pop song “Rumors.”
Then they switched to up- beat funk that got the crowd’s heads nodding and J. Atkins’ dreads flying, “giddy up,” “do some blues.” Then L. Atkins’ guitar solo took over the Tower of Power song accompanied by the “oohs” of the back up singers: JasonGriffin with Paul Comauex and Tony O’Neil from music group NSF. The crowd roared.
“She opened up her heart; she brought her music. She was amazing!”
The final number by Just Us, “Rejuvenation /Play That Funky Music White Boy,” burst the audience into ovation.
The solo act hip hopper “Flame” took the stage next. After a sound check, he rapped, “Ease the Pain,” then sang—a cappella—“Your Love Is Like Magic” into an R&B groove.
Gino & Friends filled the stage next, featuring Gino Sevacos on lead vocals and guitar, Mark Kinney on key- boards and vocals, and Jaspar on bass. Liam Atkins on cajon, Dwight Krizman on drums, and Chris Thomas on mandolin completed the sextet.
They played three conscious awareness songs, be- ginning with “Planet Love.” Gino introduced their second song, “We learn to love
each other…diversity is what I like about our country.” The crowd of inmates was fired up as the band moved into its final piece, featuring “too busy to connect…” in the lyrics.
The final act was Quentin Blue, featuring three guitarists: Richie Morris on acoustic guitar, Chris Koppe on lead electric guitar, and Dwight Krizman on bass. Mark Kinney on keyboards, Liam Atkins on percussion, and Thomas on mandolin completed the group of six.
Quentin Blue began its set with “I’d Send You Home to Mama.” Morris then introduced their next piece by telling the audience, “Music is an opportunity to do something beneficial for the outside —beyond the wall.” The song, “Upward I Fall,” was a peaceful, more tranquil style, reminiscent of Guns N’ Roses’ “Patience.”
The final Spanish-sound- ing number, “Baby I Knew You Were Leaving Me,” got the audience rockin’ again. The “Olé” ending triggered applause, but signaled the end of the concert— just in time for lock-up.
Here are comments about Audrey Auld from those present: Gino Sevacos – “I knew her for 10 years. I was there for her first visit—cool, collaborative writing. Audrey was friendly, fearless, like a breath of fresh air.”
Lee Jaspar – “Her biggest impression was her willingness to bring what she loved—her music and her friendship—into this institution and make us part of her family.”
Charles Ross – “She was always warm-hearted and smiling. It’s an honor to be picked to play in her memo- ry.”
Comments on the in-house talent concert: Chris Thomas – “This is a great venue to showcase the rehabilitation, dedication, and drive to be better people.”
Jeffrey Atkins – “It’s so nice of Lisa to showcase the in-house talent.”
Inmate in audience – “It’s always good—you always get your money’s worth around here.”
Lee Jaspar – “It was good. The evening went off really well. Thanks to Lisa—she gives tirelessly.”
Tom Lapinski of the Through The Bars Foundation – “Enjoyed watching all these musicians mixing into different bands. It was great!”
Lisa Starbird – “A wonderful success…a lot of fun having the diversity of music.”
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Bread & Roses, a nonprofit organization that sponsors volunteer music events, including about one each month inside San Quentin.
