Chicago jazz saxophonist and composer Isaiah Collier has released a powerful new album, The World Is on Fire, marking his final project with the Chosen Few. He began crafting this album before the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing inspiration from both the crisis and the racial justice protests that followed the tragic deaths of Black individuals, including George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. “There’s a whole lot of stuff going on,” Collier states, emphasizing the urgent impact of these events on the music. The album’s intensity reflects this urgency and serves as a commentary on the state of the world.
“This album metaphorically speaks to being set ablaze in all aspects,” Collier explains, referencing environmental issues like climate change and its effects on the planet. He views The World Is on Fire as a reflection of priorities and urged his bandmates—bassist Jeremiah Hunt, drummer Michael Shekwoaga Ode, and pianist Julian Davis Reid—to bring their best to the recording process. This often involved confronting personal and societal injustices.
Collier remarks on the profound nature of their recording sessions, noting, “It’s one thing to think about a situation and go, ‘Man, that’s unfortunate.’ It’s another to think about it and say, ‘Whoa, that could have been me.’” He stresses the importance of acknowledging global suffering, stating, “Verbs are not up for interpretation. They are what they are,” underscoring the need for action.
Formed nearly nine years ago, the Chosen Few has been pivotal in Collier’s career, but he feels it’s time to move on. He draws parallels to John Coltrane, noting that much of Coltrane’s influence came within a brief five-year span. Collier and the Chosen Few will perform eight sets during a four-night engagement at the Jazz Showcase starting October 10.
On October 12, Emily Carlile Nichols, known as Carlile, will headline the Epiphany Center for the Arts to celebrate her debut solo album, Human Human, released in August. Nichols, who began performing in her suburban hometown, co-founded the psychedelic neosoul group Woo Park in the early 2010s. However, she has been working on solo material for over a decade, originally under the name “Emily Nichols.”
“I wanted to continue writing, and it became hard for me to manage so many people,” Nichols explains. After meeting local digicore artist CocoJoey in 2018, she transformed her production approach, allowing her to produce Human Human with help from Rax Trax staff engineer Noam Wallenberg. Nichols began writing the album in 2018, moved to Los Angeles in 2020, and later returned to Chicago, where she’s ready to showcase her work, which captures her journey through significant emotional changes.
“The record was my opportunity to allow myself to experience those big feelings,” she says, emphasizing the importance of processing emotions through songwriting.
In a recent mini-documentary by the Ghetto Flower, Chicago rapper Kaicrewsade shared his mission to keep soul music alive and contribute to Chicago jazz. A proud west-side native with roots in Mississippi, his sound is influenced by the soul, jazz, and hip-hop music of his upbringing. His debut mixtape, Yvette, released last month, has garnered attention for its fresh perspective amid a sea of local music.
Kaicrewsade’s style is reminiscent of artists like Saba and Noname, yet he carves out a unique neosoul niche. Featuring collaborations with Chicago music scene icons such as theMIND, Femdot., and Nico Segal, Yvette serves as a nostalgic tribute to the city’s vibrant soul. If you haven’t yet explored Kaicrewsade’s work, this fall is the perfect time to dive into his impressive collection.
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