For saxophonist Isaiah Collier, jazz is not a relic of the past, but a living language. Emerging from Chicago’s vibrant music scene, he has evolved into a musician who connects tradition to the future. He has collaborated with a wide range of artists, from Angel Bat Dawid to Chance the Rapper, and is equally at home in jazz, spoken word, gospel, and funk. With his band the Chosen Few, Collier creates long, narrative compositions that blend together spiritual jazz, collective improvisation, and social themes. His albums are praised for their intensity and ambition, and live, Collier is known for performances that slowly build into almost ritualistic musical experiences. DownBeat magazine rightly named him on its 25 for the Future list in 2024. His music follows in the vein of the spiritual experiments pioneered by John Coltrane, whose music he will perform at the festival.
