A graduate of the Chicago High School for the Arts and a second year student at the Dave Brubeck Institute in Stockton, California, saxophonist Isaiah Collier has been turning heads in Chicago from an early age. Howard Reich of the Chicago Tribune writes, “Every time I hear tenor saxophonist Collier. . . I’m struck by his maturity, self-assuredness and above all musicality. Collier shows tonal grit, poetry of line, and a depth of feeling one does not generally associate with teenagers.”

Collier was mentored by the many legends of Chicago such as Ari Brown, Ernest Dawkins, Pat Malinger, James Perkins, Robert Irving III, Charles Heath, Willie Pickens, and Bobby Broom to name a few. Isaiah has shared the stage with many artists such as Stefon Harris, Roy McCurty, Roy Hargrove, Lewis Nash, Carmen Bradford, Denise Thimes, Dee Alexander, Antonio Hart, Essiet Essiet,The AACM, Steve Wilson, and Donald Brown.

Isaiah was involved with the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz All Star Peer-to-Peer group. which was composed of the best high school students from around the country. One of the highlights from this experience was to be a part of the last group to record with the legendary Rudy Van Gelder, who oversaw the project. This group received a Downbeat award after his passing.