The Next Sax Giant!
By Michael Jackson
Last December, 27-year-old saxophonist, composer and instigator Isaiah Collier held forth in a live conversation at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago his hometown. Along the way, Collier disseminated beyond-his-years wisdom, a trademark of this remarkable talent, along with a deep dedication to his instrument and the history of improvised music as well as a dizzying work ethic.
By Peter Margasak
By Ammar Kalia
By Dan Ouellette
By Cree McCree
By Josef Woodard
Between last Christmas and New Year’s Eve, Ethan Iverson performed as part of the 31st Umbria Jazz Winter festival in Orvieto, Italy, presenting “Simply Cinematic,” a set of movie themes he had creatively reimagined for the UJ big band led by alto saxophonist Manuele Morbidini, plus bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Kush Abadey. The music featured tunes — some familiar, some not-so — composed by soundtrack giants Bernard Herrmann, Ennio Morricone, Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams and others. On a Sunday morning Iverson participated in his second DownBeat Blindfold Test, this time live, attended by more than 40 jazz-inspired early-risers.
