A talent show on the Lower Yard of San Quentin State Prison on May 31 was the first of what is planned as an annual event on the Lower Yard. Acts included spoken word, poetry, music and comedy.
The crowd erupted in applause when Billy Hazelton and Jens O. Brazwell took to the stage and performed classic Rhythm and Blues.
Brazwell said that he has been singing Ain’t No Sunshine since the song came out in 1974. He has been a musician since he was10 years old.
“It can be a relief. When you’re playing music it’s like an out of body experience,” Brazwell said.
Brazwell has been incarcerated four years and has been at San Quentin just over a month. He was also at San Quentin before, around 2003.
“It was different then,” he said. “Now, with all the programs, people are getting out.”
Hazelton dedicated Ain’t No Sunshine to his son, Dennis.
Hazelton has been incarcerated 21 years and has been at San Quentin about year and a half.
“I was fortunate to find Jens (Brazwell) here,” Hazelton said.
The comedy acts of Aaron “Harun” Taylor and Eric Durr got the attention of inmate Jarvis “Lady Jae” Clark.
“When Harun did the I Am, it was so moving,” said Clark, who was sitting on a wall, back-stage. “He was speaking on a spiritual thing. That God is with everyone. He said, ‘I am that person sitting on the wall.’ and ‘I am Jarvis.’”
Clark commented on Durr’s comedy routine saying, “Here you had this man look at me, and it was a true recognition of me as a person. It was an acknowledgement to me as a person. I was proud to know both of them. They were comfortable within themselves. They may not agree with my lifestyle, but they respect me as a person.”
Hip-Hop performers, Lemar “Maverick” Harrison, Antwan “Banks” Williams, and Harry “ATL” Smith entertained the crowd with several spiritually-based pieces.
I love the chance to give the testimony of my transformation,” Banks said. That’s why we performed, Beast, Broken and Battered, and He’s Coming Back Fo’Real.”
Beast describes the story of who we used to be before coming to the Lord, Banks said.
Its message is regardless of mistakes, we all have redeemable traits to the betterment of life.
He’s Coming Back Fo’Real is a hard-core gospel anthem to motivate the younger generation to believe in the Lord.
“It’s a great thing to be part of a community that allows us to bear the fruit of our transformation, “ATL” Smith said. “ Shout out to Mother Jackson. We love her because she’s the one who got us on this hype.”
The World is Just a Ghetto, performed by G. Mesro Coles-El captivated the audience with its informative, yet rhythmic message: The world has to know the truth. Somebody has to tell it. The war on drugs is a war on people.
Several bands also entertained the audience, including Banda Pisa with traditional Mexican music that can be described as festively jolly, with vibrant guitar picking and harmonic vocals.
Richie Morris played a couple of original songs, Bright LA Lights and I Can’t See You Anymore, along with A Moment in Time, by Dwight Krizman.
“To those who have courage to get up here and do something good, thank you,” Krizman said.
John Neblett read The River Man, by Elizabeth Bishop.
“It’s about my ancestor’s culture in the Amazon,” he said. My great-grandfather is said to be half-Amazon Indian, by way of Barbados, which is 99 percent black. So, this poem means a lot to me.”