Description
Isaiah Collier is a Chicago/Brooklyn based multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, curator, activist, motivational speaker and educator. Collier is most known for his work as a saxophonist, and in addition to him being a drummer as well. Collier’s sound and approach is drawn from the influences of other masters saxophonists such as John Coltrane, Roscoe Mitchell, Wayne Shorter, Ari Brown and Gene Ammons.
`Collier has shared the stage with many musicians both locally and internationally. With Artists such as Chance The Rapper,Lewis Nash, Waddada Leo Smith III, Antonio Hart, Junius Paul, James Carter, Rene Marie, Carl Allen,Paul Rogers, Bennie Maupin,Rudy Van Gelder, Angel Bat Dawid and many more.
In addition to Collier playing at Venues and festivals from notable places such as The Jazz Showcase, Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola, Lithuania Jazz Festival,The White House, Chicago Jazz Festival, New York Winter Jazz Festival, The Hyde Park Jazz Festivals,Sons D’hiver Festival(Paris), The Logan Center, The Harris Theatre, U.S Embassy(Paraguay).
Collier is also a former fellow of the prestigious Dave Brubeck Institute Stockton,Ca. In addition to being one of the last musician’s to work with the late Rudy Van Gelder. The project would later win a downbeat award in 2016 after his passing.
His most well known work is with his group “Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few”. Their most recent project “The Unapologetic Negro” (2019) and their first release “Return of The Black Emperor” (2017). In addition to receiving a Five Star Review from Downbeat Magazine on his new project “Cosmic Transitions“, recorded at The Legendary Rudy Van Gelder’s Studio(2020)