“Redemption Time” is a 70-minute multimedia concert film that weaves together the stories and work of two formerly incarcerated artists: the celebrated poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, and renowned jazz violinist Christian Howes.
After ten years of development, the film is planning for a nationwide launch in 2026. Our team is in conversation with community organizations, educational institutions, and venues to explore screenings in conjunction with multi-layered events to help create social impact in your community.
Learn more about the cast, artists, and our team below, and contact us to start a conversation about how we can collaborate.
Jimmy Santiago Baca taught himself to read and write while incarcerated. He now has a PhD in Literature, has published volumes of poetry, and is the recipient of an NEA Literary Fellowship, a Vogelstein Foundation Award, the Pushcart Prize, the American Book Award for Poetry, and the Hispanic Heritage Award.
Violinist Christian Howes was voted #1 in the Downbeat Critics Poll, named among the top jazz violinists by JazzTimes, and nominated for Violinist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association. Howes has served as a cultural ambassador, performing in Ukraine and Montenegro at the invitation of the U.S. State Department.
Director David Gonzalez received his doctorate from NYU where he taught for ten years. His work has been featured at Lincoln Center, on PBS, and on NPR. He has received the International Performing Arts for Youth’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the Joseph Campbell Foundation Fellowship, and a Drama Desk Award nomination.
Jimmy Santiago Baca taught himself to read and write while incarcerated. He now has a PhD in Literature, has published volumes of poetry, and is the recipient of an NEA Literary Fellowship, a Vogelstein Foundation Award, the Pushcart Prize, the American Book Award for Poetry, and the Hispanic Heritage Award.
Violinist Christian Howes was voted #1 in the Downbeat Critics Poll, named among the top jazz violinists by JazzTimes, and nominated for Violinist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association. Howes has served as a cultural ambassador, performing in Ukraine and Montenegro at the invitation of the U.S. State Department.
Director David Gonzalez received his doctorate from NYU where he taught for ten years. His work has been featured at Lincoln Center, on PBS, and on NPR. He has received the International Performing Arts for Youth’s Lifetime Achievement Award, the Joseph Campbell Foundation Fellowship, and a Drama Desk Award nomination.
Lovell Bradford, piano (and drums)
Shannon Hoover, bass
Hamilton Hardin, drums (and saxophone and piano)
Christian Howes, violin (and guitar)
Executive Producer, Dr. Ann Evans
Co-Producers: David Gonzalez and Christian Howes
Associate Producers: Jimmy Santiago Baca and Jonathan E. Stewart
Editor: Aidan Weaver
Impact Production Assistants: Tristan Turner, Josue Cabala
