Isaiah Collier releases brilliant direct-to-disc spiritual jazz album on Night Dreamer
The London-based Night Dreamer label continues their string of incredible Direct-To-Disc recordings with arguably their best session to date, featuring Chicago multi-instrumentalist and composer Isaiah Collier with a superb group that includes gospel soul singer Jimetta Rose, AACM and former Art Ensemble of Chicago trumpet player Corey Wilkes and others, titled Parallel Universe.
Featuring eight tracks on this 2xLP release, this album brilliantly fuses together everything from spiritual and soul-jazz grooves to Afrofuturistic cosmic tones, Afro-Cuban rhythms, and gospel melodies. There are influential elements of Coltrane, Sun Ra, and Pharoah Sanders present throughout the music, with vocals by Collier, Rose and Sonny Daze playing a prominent part in the overall uplifting feel of each track.
The record also includes standout performances by blues-rooted guitarist Michael Damani, along with keyboardist Julian Davis Reid, drummer James Russell Sims and bassist Micah Collier, which are all regular ongoing collaborators with Collier.
Along with the 2xLP, the well-crafted release also includes a beautiful 44 page 12″ x 12″ photo booklet on the making of the record.
Great from start to finish, with each song naturally complimenting the next, Isaiah Collier and this impressive cast of musicians, in addition to the live energy of Night Dreamer’s direct-to-disc approach to recording, have combined to produce one of the best albums of 2023.
Isaiah Collier — ‘Parallel Universe’
(Night Dreamer)
- Eggun
- Village Song
- Retreat
- Parallel Universe
- The Lean
- Never Back Down
- Open The Door
- The Last Song
