A Grammy-winning jazz trio played for inmates at Collins Bay Institution, part of a growing prison arts program that’s transforming lives through music.
Grammy Artist Strikes a Chord in Kingston Prison
The Bill Frisell Trio, led by Grammy-winning jazz guitarist Bill Frisell, delivered an unforgettable performance this week — not in a concert hall, but inside the gymnasium of Collins Bay Institution. The intimate concert, met with standing ovations from inmates, was part of the growing Pros and Cons Prison Arts Program, which is using music to transform lives behind bars.
An Unlikely Venue, a Powerful Experience
The makeshift venue was a far cry from typical concert spaces. Inmates dressed in standard-issue blue T-shirts sat quietly at first, but by the end, the gym reverberated with applause and cheers. For Frisell, returning to perform for incarcerated Canadians marked a rare connection. “It’s intimidating,” he admitted, “but it’s just so inspiring seeing their reaction because it’s purely about the music.”
A Program Rooted in Redemption
The concert was organized by Hugh Christopher Brown, a musician and founder of the Pros and Cons Prison Arts Program. Since launching his first songwriting workshop over a decade ago, Brown has built recording studios in five correctional facilities across Canada. Inmates have recorded and released four full albums, with proceeds donated to charities aligned with rehabilitation, such as women’s shelters and food banks.
Giving Inmates a Voice and a Choice
Brown believes music offers incarcerated people a rare sense of agency. “They’re doing it because they like it, and they have agency,” he explained. “When you provide trust to someone, they start offering it to themselves — and others.” Beyond artistic expression, the program fosters accountability and emotional presence, something Brown says is often absent in institutional life.
From Inmate to Advocate
Scott Argyle, a former participant who served an 18-month sentence at Joyceville Institution, credits the program with reshaping his worldview. A lifelong drummer, he stumbled upon the opportunity while in prison and ended up collaborating with inmates from diverse musical backgrounds. “We wouldn’t even have talked to each other, let alone play music together,” Argyle recalled. The experience helped him reconnect with empathy — a shift he says helped him successfully reintegrate into society.
A Vision for National Expansion
Now a registered Canadian charity, Pros and Cons aims to reach every federal institution in the country. Brown sees the initiative as more than a creative outlet — it’s a tool for healing, reconciliation, and transformation. “When you’ve done harm to another, the courage and humility it takes to face that… music helps bring you there,” he said.
A Harmony of Hope
While the walls of Collins Bay Institution remain unchanged, the echoes of jazz, hip-hop, and rock created a moment of shared humanity. For inmates, performers, and organizers alike, the experience underscored music’s unique ability to transcend bars and borders — even in the most unlikely places.
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