Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few - Brosella Festival

Sonic time machine

Straight out of Chicago’s thriving jazz scene, 25-year-old multi-instrumentalist, composer, educator, and activist Isaiah Collier is carving a unique path in contemporary spiritual jazz. With his band The Chosen Few, he channels the energy of Coltrane, the boldness of Roscoe Mitchell, and the curiosity of the next generation. Collier’s playing—whether on saxophone, drums, or voice—is both thunderous and tender, timeless and immediate. He calls it a “sonic time machine”: music that stretches backward and forward simultaneously, blurring the lines between tradition and futurism. $

He’s performed at The White House, Dizzy’s Club, and across international stages, collaborating with Angel Bat Dawid, Chance The Rapper, Waddada Leo Smith, and many more. His critically acclaimed album Cosmic Transitions (recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio on Coltrane’s birthday) garnered a 5-star Downbeat review and multiple “Album of the Year” nods—cementing his place as a visionary artist of his generation.