Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few - Return Of The Black Emperor [Japanese Import] Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few

The Roots of a New Generation Chicago Jazz Force — World’s First-Ever Vinyl Release!

One of the most exciting saxophonists to emerge from the new generation of Chicago jazz, Isaiah Collier reveals the powerful roots of his musical journey on Return of The Black Emperor, his 2018 debut album with The Chosen Few. Recorded when Collier was just 20 years old, this early landmark captures the remarkable energy, fearless creativity, and spiritual intensity that would go on to define his rapidly developing career.

Drawing deeply from the tradition of spiritual jazz, with the influence of John Coltrane and the rich legacy of Chicago’s jazz and improvisational music scene, the album presents a young Collier already developing a distinctive musical voice of his own. The title track, “Return of The Black Emperor,” places his soaring saxophone against a tense, heavyweight backdrop of rhythm, piano, and guitar, while “War Song” erupts with raw, high-energy improvisation. Elsewhere, “I Am Who I Be” and “Before You Go” reveal a more introspective side, balancing intensity with emotional depth.

Across 11 tracks and approximately 66 minutes, Collier’s broad musical vision comes fully into focus. The spiritual atmosphere of “Mali,” the gospel roots of “Wade In the Water,” and the extended 12-minute-plus workout “Heath’s Groove” demonstrate his ability to move freely between spiritual jazz, gospel, improvisation, and contemporary expressions of jazz.

More than simply a debut, Return of The Black Emperor represents the starting point of Isaiah Collier’s ongoing musical exploration—a powerful early statement from an artist who would later establish an increasingly prominent presence in the contemporary jazz world. Rooted in the post-Coltrane spiritual jazz tradition yet determined to express it in the language of his own generation, this is an essential document of a young Chicago saxophonist discovering his voice.

Now available on vinyl for the first time ever, this long-awaited edition offers collectors a chance to experience the formative work of one of contemporary jazz’s most compelling new voices.