Resident Alexander Parlato said his passion for poetry and music died after he was sentenced and sent to a prison where there weren’t opportunities for him to share his artistic talent.

“I stopped doing music in 2018 after going to High Desert. Prison had me depressed and there wasn’t anyone doing music,” said Parlato. “Coming to San Quentin reminded me that my artistry mattered. Music saved my life and I forgot that for a little while.”

Arriving at SQ, Parlato found that love for music when he joined the Music Cambia program, a five-day workshop that allowed residents to collaborate on original pieces based on a specific theme. The theme for this cohort was “Purpose.” The workshop ended with a concert performed by participants for the general population.

Outside musicians Brad Balliett, Sara Goldfeather, and Judith Hill together with resident performers created a large circle on stage for breathing exercises and some vocal warm-ups.

Balliett sat at the piano and in unison the whole room sang “Many mumbling mice-are making midnight music-in the moonlight migh-ty-nice.” The speed of the lyrics increased each time the lines were completed.

“The five-day workshop has lots of moving parts and not a lot of time, but the members are so creative that they bring it all together,” said Balliett. “The reality is that creative styles, music, and collaborations [are] doable anywhere there are people, but when you build a frame for people to step into, then they feel comfortable being in that frame and just doing.”

Resident Luis Alvarez, a native of Ecuador and a self-taught musician of 45 years, said he felt angry with the criminal legal system and how it tore his family apart but that music has always relaxed him. He said that being involved in this workshop allowed him to experience something new.

“When I start to play music on the piano, I forget about the problems,” said Alvarez, standing on stage with the other 35 participants and waiting to be given a group number.

Music Cambia gathers individuals interested in showcasing their musical talents into an intense five days of collaboration and dedication.

Everyone was assigned a number as they broke into small groups of five or six people to work on their original piece(s).

Initially residents went back and forth over tempo and music style selections. As the musical groups developed their sounds, the room was overwhelmed with drums, pianos, and voices of people trying to get their words right. One group developed a slow tempo sound that included storytelling in a country style and included rap verses and a course.

As the songs developed, one could hear the confidence building as songs and rhythms became louder, giving the other groups a sort of call to action to showcase what they developed together.

“It makes me feel alive and seen. There have been times when I couldn’t get a job, but music has always been there for me,” said Parlato.