Isaiah Collier celebrates John Coltrane's centennial at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, July 1

Marquee Series concert showcases the tenor saxophonist’s sonic innovation and Chicago roots, in homage to a true legend

SPONSORED POST BY Coastal Jazz & Blues Society

Isaiah Collier. Photo by Johanna Brinckman

Saxophonist Isaiah Collier, a self-described “sonic scientist”, is bringing his concert Collier Plays Coltrane to the Vancouver International Jazz Festival on Canada Day. The Marquee Series event will take place at the Vancouver Playhouse on July 1 at 7:30 pm.

As a player, composer, arranger, and educator, Collier is making some of modern music’s most ecstatic and transportive statements. A maverick of creative and improvisational force, he’s collaborated with such jazz luminaries as Kahil El’Zabar, Ambrose Akinmusire, Nicole Mitchell, Marquis Hill, and Makaya McCraven, as well as NEA Jazz Masters Billy Hart, Marshall Allen, and Denardo Coleman. He’s also known for his ensemble The Chosen Few, which blew the roof off the Vancouver International Jazz Festival in 2023.

Collier continuously reshapes the sonic landscape of modern jazz, standing 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 reverence and innovation in every note.

In 2024, the Chicago Tribune called Collier Chicagoan of the Year in Jazz. In 2025, the Jazz Journalists Association named him Up and Coming Artist of the Year; and DownBeat gave him Rising Star of the Year titles for his achievements as a tenor saxophonist, flutist, and group member, later featuring him on its cover.

For Collier’s special celebration of John Coltrane’s centennial at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, he will be joined by drummer Tim Regis, bassist Conway Campbell, and pianist Davis Whitfield.

Tickets are available through Coastal Jazz.

Post sponsored by Coastal Jazz & Blues Society.

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