Isaiah Collier celebrates John Coltrane at Vancouver Jazz Fest
Tenor saxophonist plays Collier Plays Coltrane July 1 at the Vancouver Playhouse. Part of the Marquee Series.
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Isaiah Collier, a tenor saxophonist and self-described "sonic scientist," is bringing his concert Collier Plays Coltrane to the Vancouver International Jazz Festival on Canada Day.
The Marquee Series event takes place July 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the Vancouver Playhouse. Collier will be joined by drummer Tim Regis, bassist Conway Campbell, and pianist Davis Whitfield.
As a player, composer, arranger, and educator, Collier stands firmly within the lineage of Chicago's rich tenor-saxophone legacy. He's known for reshaping the sonic landscape of modern jazz with reverence and innovation in every note. In 2024, the Chicago Tribune named him 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 achievements as a tenor saxophonist, flutist, and group member.
Collier has collaborated with jazz luminaries including 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 performed at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival in 2023.
For this special celebration of John Coltrane's centennial — marking 100 years since Coltrane's birth — Collier will channel reverence for the jazz icon while demonstrating his own innovative approach to the instrument.
Tickets are available through Coastal Jazz. This is one of the festival's headline events, and advance booking is recommended.