Isaiah Collier and a select few become spiritual about the Almighty

Isaiah Collier & the Chosen Few return for 2021 follow-up Changes in the universeand the jazz quartet continues to get down to business in space. Almighty. Collier has established a reputation as one of the leading young saxophonists in modern jazz, and with ambitious goals for 2024, his star is sure to continue to rise. Almighty It sounds like an album that revives the spiritual jazz genre that peaked in the 1960s and 1970s. Because, thanks to metaphysical sound science, positive vibes are coming back strong.

“where Changes in the universe It posed the question of how to use the lessons learned from others. Almighty “It drives home the concept that there are higher vibrational energy forces in nature that we must tune into for the betterment of ourselves and society as a whole,” says a press release for the record. explains.

On the opening track, “Love,” Chicago vocalist Dee Alexander joins Collier on saxophone and percussion, Michael Shekwoaga-Ord on drums, Julian Davis Reid on piano, and Jeremiah Hunt on bass. It’s a powerful, energetic mood-setter with a message of love for humanity, featuring lyrics written by Collier for Alexander. The saxophone wizard incorporates classic 1960s influences into his playing, but his booming voice is a magnet for those who witness him live.

There is a consistent theme throughout Almighty It segues into track two, “Compassion.” This is a lofty instrumental number that serves as a thematic interlude between the opening vocalist track and the song that follows. “Compassion” features guest saxophonist Ali Brown, Colliers’ mentor in the local Chicago jazz scene, and the rapture between teachers and students that seems to take place in the realm of angels. You can enjoy conversation.

The highlight of Almighty This song appears in the third song “Perspective (Peace and Love)”. This song has the feel of an instant classic and should be a strong contender for jazz song of the year. Collier takes lead vocals here, and if this song sounds like a nod to the great Pharoah Sanders, that’s because it is. The infectious “peace and love” chorus is an earworm that can linger in a listener’s psyche, but for a world gone mad in 2024, what could be a more timely message? ?

“When we find ourselves in certain situations, we are quick to take sides without offering compassion, understanding, or perspective,” says Isaiah Collier. “Sometimes things are dark, but life is like a painting. We are all in the same gallery, but on different sides of the room. If I come to the side where you are standing and see the same When you look at something, only then, when you change your perspective, you see something different. My perspective on this, my point of view, is “peace and love.” ”

For the first half of the track, Collier focuses on percussion and vocals, with Davis Reid playing an exquisite solo on the piano over uplifting polyrhythmic percussion, before Collier takes us through time and space with a great saxophone melody. returns to the forefront in a big way that illuminates the continuum.

“Duality Suite” sees a select few dive deep into a wild ride of a 23-minute sonic journey that includes a four-part movement. Collier and Ord play an intense jam in the opening section, then into what feels like a higher dimension as the band brings the atmosphere into a more peaceful space with a sublime transition that feels like a warm spring day in Rivendell. And so on. The swing jam that follows soars, the entire quartet moving into action, yet remaining in control like the Millennium Falcon sailing through an asteroid field. In the final section of the four-part movement, Away his team navigates another bright cosmic space, with Collier leading the way, creating a sonic fusion between the divine masculine, the divine feminine, and the elements. I’ll explore.

It ends with the title song Almighty Your 18-minute workout begins in a sacred gathering place, then takes you on an dimensional journey into space. The Chosen Few’s sound seems to ripple through time and space, with Isaiah Collier’s dynamic saxophone lines weaving together past, present, and future. The track soars even higher as Collier conducts The Celestials, an ensemble featuring strings, horns and an additional rhythm section. Collier and his friends use a 15-piece unit to create some great sounds.

Isaiah Collier & the Chosen Few also want to be heard in a live setting. During the second set of the March 28th show at San Francisco’s Black Cat Jazz Supper Club, three songs from the new album were performed back-to-back to close out the night, including “The Almighty” and “The Almighty.” “Love” set the stage for the climactic jam of “Perspective (Peace).” and Love)” was far longer than the album version’s seven minutes. This song works well as a vehicle for extended jams as the sound creates a wave of positive triumph that you want to keep flowing. Collier leads the Chosen Few, including sensational guest drummer Thomas Pridgen, in an uplifting jam that dazzles the senses, while the power of the music channels the collective vibrations of everyone in the room. It made them feel that they could save the world by moving towards harmony.

Almighty is an album in the truest sense of the concept, with each track joining together to create a larger thematic whole. This sets a high bar for the rest of the jazz world, with Isaiah Collier set to release several more records this July, including another with Chosen Few.