PRESS RELEASES
Isaiah Collier | “The World is On Fire”
Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few Ignite a Powerful Reflection on Today’s Socio-Political Landscape in the Quartet’s Final Release The World is On Fire
Available via Division 81 Records on October 18, 2024
The lead single “The Time is Now” is available Today
Read Fall Preview in The New York Times
“’The World Is On Fire’ boasts the grit and conviction that have helped Collier stand out in an increasingly crowded field of younger artists engaging with the tradition of so-called spiritual jazz.” — The New York Times
“Collier is an imperious talent with outstanding musical ability to belie the sartorial splendor he deploys to get the message across.” — Downbeat
“Passionate music, much of it in the free-floating Pharoah Sanders vein, but often Collier’s rasping tenor spoke beautifully of injustice and human suffering.” — Jazzwise
“While there’s no mistaking this spiritual jazz recording from Isaiah Collier as belonging to any time other than the present, it evokes all kinds of old-school sessions by the likes of Lonnie Liston Smith and Pharoah Sanders.” — Bandcamp Daily
Just months after the release of The Almighty, saxophonist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Isaiah Collier presents his next full-length body of work The World is On Fire available via Division 81 Records on October 18, 2024. Joined by Julian Davis Reid on piano, Jeremiah Hunt on bass, and Michael Ode on drums, the album is the final body of work with his quartet, The Chosen Few, marking the closing chapter of the group’s eight-year journey. Following Collier’s acclaimed 2021 release Cosmic Transitions which explored navigating lessons learned from interpersonal relationships during Retrograde and earned a five-star Downbeat review, The Almighty delved into the relationship between the everyday person and the Divine Source. Now, The World is On Fire takes an outward look into society and reverberates with the zeitgeist of today’s uproarious socio-political landscape.
The World is On Fire is Collier’s observation journal reflecting on the tumultuous period from before the pandemic to the present day. The title itself wields his lens on vile acts committed by those in power addressing themes of economic upheaval, systemic racism, and the relentless fight for justice. The potency of Collier’s compositions is reinforced by utilizing harrowing real-life news clips throughout the album that radiate the urgency, somberness, and turmoil during this time in history as the album as a whole serves as a requiem for countless lives lost and injustices that remain unacknowledged. It pays tribute to individuals like Sandra Bland, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Sonya Massey, among many others, whose stories have often been overshadowed.
“This project is a sonic exploration, blending sounds, consciousness, and activism to raise awareness about the pressing issues of our time,” says Collier, “Through my music, I strive to capture and personify the profound impact of the challenges we face.”
The album’s 10 tracks emit a clarion call for awareness on the pressing issues of our times. The lead track “The Time is Now” signals the siren of this critical state of urgency with its fervent tempo, Reid’s focused keyboard strides, and Collier’s focused immediacy on tenor. “Our future hinges on our response to the call for change. The story of our era is being written now, and it’s up to us to shape it positively,” he proclaims.
“Trials and Tribulations” begins with an audio clip of a news reporter from the April 2023 shooting of Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old boy who was shot twice after knocking on the wrong door to pick up his twin brothers. As Reid’s anguished piano lays the foundation beneath the clip, the question “Do you think if he was a white 16-year-old boy who rang that door… do you think it would have been the same outcome?” transitions seamlessly into Collier’s doleful alto melody. This passage encapsulates the enduring struggles within the Black experience that permeate throughout the album and poignantly highlight critical societal issues such as systemic racism, legislative hurdles, and continuous debates around affirmative action—each a stark reminder for the ongoing battle for justice.
“Amerikkka the Ugly” is ushered in by audio of Mississippi Representative Bennie Thompson, who headed the January 6th Committee. Thompson sharply rebukes Former President Donald Trump for inciting a deadly insurrection and disregarding democracy. With special guest Kenthaney Redmond at the helm on flute playing reflective, arpeggiated lines, he echoes Thompson’s sentiments critiquing the disparity between the idealized version of American and its historical and contemporary realities.
Inspired by the tragic video of Ahmaud Arbery’s death in February 2020, the namesake track [“Ahmaud Arbery”] captures the profound sorrow and vulnerability that such injustices invoke. Arbery was murdered by three white men in a racially motivated hate crime while jogging in his neighborhood in suburban Georgia. The track is a mournful reflection on the loss of life over something as ordinary as jogging.
Collier’s global perspective extends to regions like the Congo, Kenya, Sudan, Palestine, Ukraine, and Lebanon, reflecting the universal struggle against oppression and conflict. “The Hate You Give is the Love You Lose” contemplates the broader suffering caused by genocide and economic collapse. A staple in his live performances in recent years and showcasing the talents of all four members transitioning between a boisterous A section and tempered, pensive B section. Continuing the theme of global impact, “Crash” begins with an introduction of free-flowing drum rolls, arco bass, and tremolo piano for Collier’s tenor to soar over reflecting on the subtle, yet profound impacts of economic collapse. It’s an exploration of how such crises often start imperceptibly before making a significant impact on everyday lives.
Collier’s respect of his elders, jazz greats, and tradition has always coursed through his musical DNA as he accepts the responsibility and empowerment of having his own voice and building upon the bricks that Coltrane, Pharaoh, Sun Ra, and beyond have laid down. “Metamorphosis” is inspired by Wayne Shorter’s last quartet as it contemplates the transition from old leadership to new contrasting past pandemic experiences with our current state of near-normalcy highlighting the evolving nature of our interactions. The title track “The World is On Fire” was composed during Collier’s time as a fellow at the Brubeck Institute and was inspired by the Amazon wildfires and the protests following George Floyd’s death embodying the duality of impact literal and symbolic fires have had on our recent history.
The closing track “We Don’t Even Know Where We’re Heading” reflects on the collective uncertainty of the future. With lyrics by Kennedy Banks (Battle) and an augmented ensemble featuring Kentheny Redmond and Mayshell Morris on flute; vocalists Manasseh Croft, Kiela Adira, Jessica Walton & Meagan NcNeal; Corey Wilkes on trumpet; Ed Wilkerson Jr. on alto clarinet; and Olula Negre on cello, Collier once again closes out a record displaying his larger ensemble compositional prowess and joins the chorus of vocalists offering a glimmer of hope and direction amidst the chaos. Unbeknownst to Collier during its 2020 cultivation, the track’s title now offers a dual meaning as Collier closes one door with the final release with The Chosen Few and opens new ones with the world at his fingertips.
With projects that include the vocal-driven, funk, and R&B-slanted Parallel Universe that released their debut record via direct-to-disc label Night Dreamer in 2023; the free jazz-leaning saxophone & drums duo I AM; collaborations with Devon Turnbull’s (aka OJAS) hi-fi listening rooms; and finalizing his interdisciplinary arts suite The Story of 400 Years that details 400 Years of the African diaspora (first commissioned and debuted at Hyde Park Jazz Festival in 2019), Collier has plenty of irons in the fire with no intent to slow down any time soon.
“This 8 year journey with The Chosen Few is coming to an end. It’s almost ironic given the circumstances of the times. In the past eight years I have experienced two extreme presidents that have changed the world for me. Just as they have changed policy, so has my music. I can’t say it is a bittersweet thing for I have had this project since I had graduated High school. In an ironic sense I feel like I’m graduating again but into a new musical exploration and perspective. I have given as much as I can to this concept of sound that I can. I thank my musical ancestors John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, Pharoah Sanders, and many more for being my muse in addition to being a vessel and conduit for their impact. Now I’m finding a new muse in sound and look forward to sharing with you all. For change is inevitable and I pose this question to the world: ‘What’s the point in doing something if you are not going to change it?,’” Collier says of his evolution.
As The Chosen Few prepare for their curtain call, The World is On Fire is a final offering that is more than a collection of songs—it’s a passionate plea for awareness, understanding, and change. Through the journey of sound and reflection, Collier urges us all to play a role in crafting a more just and equitable world.
“The record addresses the uncertainty of our future—both individually and collectively. We stand on the precipice of an unknown journey, and my goal is to find inspiration and insight into where we might be headed. This journey encompasses mental, spiritual, physical, and emotional transformation, driven by a burning passion to foster a better world.”
ISAIAH COLLIER 2024 TOUR DATES
September 12-15: Black Cat – San Francisco, California*
September 21: Future Sounds of Jazz Festival – Los Angeles, CA #
September 26: Constellation – Chicago, IL *
October 5: All Blues – New York City, NY %
October 10-13: Jazz Showcase – Chicago, IL*
October 19: Kente Art Alliance – Pittsburgh, PA*
October 30: Blues Alley – Washington D.C.*
November 9: Soka Performing Arts Center – Aliso Viejo, CA*
*with The Chosen Few
# with The Gemini Project
% ‘The World is on Fire’ Listening Party
Photo by Neils Gether
Isaiah Collier · The World is On Fire
Division 81 Records · Release Date: October 18, 2024
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