Freedom First: A Jazz Benefit Concert for Keith LaMar - CLEVELAND

While confronting a legal system that aims to M**der him, jazz artists are joining Keith LaMar's struggle to regain his freedom
About this Event

Freedom First is coming to Cleveland's Bop Stop on November 7, 2026! Seating is limited to 100 tickets, so please reserve yours early!

Freedom First began as a concert series in the summer of 2020 on the streets of Brooklyn and Manhattan shortly after the M**der of George Floyd, and at a time the country was shut down due to Covid. The aim of these beautiful shows has been to raise public awareness of yet another grave injustice being done in our names, and to seek support for the Campaign for Justice for Keith LaMar while we still can...

Keith LaMar is a WRONGFULLY-CONVICTED Black man who faces state-sanctioned M**der for crimes he can prove he did not commit—his execution date has been reset for January 16, 2030 (his original date was November 16, 2023!).

Keith is still breathing. Let's not wait for him to become a hashtag.

We are bringing this incredible jazz concert back to Cleveland, the city where Keith has born and raised. We'll be joined by a band of provocative and gifted contemporary artists who will play music from the first ever album in history created and recorded by someone on death row, aptly titled FREEDOM FIRST, as well as new songs off their 2nd album, LIVE from Death Row. We are excited to be joined for vocals by some of the finest musicians, including the incredible Sami Stevens on vocal. The other members of Freedom First will be: Kazemde George on tenor sax, Kevin Martinez on double bass, Zaire Darden on drums, Albert Marquès on piano, and, of course, Keith LaMar calling in LIVE from his Pr*son cell on Ohio's death row (where he has spent over three decades in solitary confinement!). Keith, an avid jazz lover, lends his soulful and heart-wrenching spoken-word poetry to some of his favorite tunes and several new original pieces written for/with him. In spite of these unimaginably difficult years of torture, he continues to shine a bright light into the world, teaching, motivating, and loving people with great intention. We hope that you will join us in our support as we strive to get Justice for Keith LaMar.

Learn more:

Read: Article about Freedom First at Pomona College in 2023:
https://truthout.org/articles/from-death-row-keith-lamar-has-built-a-movement-for-love-art-and-abolition/

Read: New York Times article about Freedom First:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/11/arts/music/keith-lamar-death-row-freedom-first.html

Watch: Democracy Now! With Amy Goodman:

August 2026: https://www.democracynow.org/2026/8/10/ohio_death_penalty
February 2025: Part 1 and Part 2

Listen: Jason Flom’s Wrongful Conviction Podcast:
Part 1 - Episode 379 and Part 2 - Episode 380

Listen: The Real Killer Podcast:
Season 2 (11 Episodes)

Listen: Truer Crime Podcast with Celisia Stanton:
Bonus Episode (recommended)| Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Learn more about Keith's story at: www.keithlamar.org

#loveistheonlyfreedom #justiceforkeithlamar