Isaiah Collier

“The next sax giant” – DownBeat Magazine

Saxophonist, composer, arranger, educator, and self-described “Sonic Scientist” Isaiah Collier is making some of modern music’s most ecstatic and transportive sonic statements. A maverick of creative and improvisational force, he’s collaborated with jazz luminaries Kahil El’Zabar, Ambrose Akinmusire, Nicole Mitchell, Marquis Hill, and Makaya McCraven, and NEA Jazz Masters Billy Hart, Marshall Allen, and Denardo Coleman. He’s also known for his ensemble, The Chosen Few, who blew the Vancouver International Jazz Fest roof off back in 2023.

Collier, a proud member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), was named Chicagoan of the Year in Jazz (2024), and Up and Coming Artist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association. In 2025, he was named DownBeat Rising Star Tenor Saxophonist, Flautist, and Group of the Year, and was featured on the venerable publication’s cover.

An artist who continues to reshape the sonic landscape of modern jazz, Collier stands firmly within the lineage of Chicago’s rich tenor saxophone legacy. He’s a mystic of sound, a servant to his craft and culture, and an artist who channels both reverence and innovation in every note.

In a special celebration of John Coltrane’s centennial, Collier is joined by Tim Regis drums, Conway Campbell bass, and Davis Whitfield piano.

For Accessible seating please contact: boxoffice@coastaljazz.ca