The World Is On Fire
Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few
The World Is On Fire
by Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few
Label: Division 81
Release Date: October 18, 2024
Isaiah Collier's latest release, The World Is On Fire, is a bold and urgent reflection of our times. It’s not just an album—it’s an unapologetic commentary on the socio-political upheaval that has shaken the globe in recent years. With the firm grounding of Jazz, Collier leads The Chosen Few through ten deeply charged compositions that confront themes of systemic racism, economic turmoil, and the fight for justice. The inclusion of real-world news clips interspersed throughout the album intensifies its message, making it feel as much a historical record as it is a musical journey.
From the outset, the album’s intention is clear. The Time is Now bursts forth with Julian Davis Reid’s impassioned piano and Collier’s electrifying tenor saxophone, serving as a clarion call to action. There’s no hesitation here—the music mirrors the urgency Collier sees in today’s landscape, one rife with challenges that demand immediate attention. It’s spiritual Jazz for the here and now, invoking the legacy of John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, but with a distinctly modern edge.
The album’s political tone becomes palpable on Trials and Tribulations, which opens with an audio clip referencing the tragic shooting of Ralph Yarl, a 16-year-old boy whose story is just one of many that speak to the continuing struggle against racial injustice. Reid’s piano underpins this moment with an anguish that bleeds into Collier’s mournful alto sax. As the piece unfolds, it powerfully articulates the Black experience in America, using music as a vessel to grapple with systemic inequality, violence, and the deep scars they leave behind.
Amerikkka the Ugly continues the album’s unflinching examination of modern-day politics, with Mississippi Representative Bennie Thompson’s rebuke of Donald Trump’s role in the January 6th insurrection setting the stage for Kenthaney Redmond’s reflective flute. The track’s critique of American ideals versus its reality finds its groove in subtle dissonances, as Redmond’s playing evokes the disillusionment of those who have long been failed by the promises of democracy.
The centerpiece of the album, Ahmaud Arbery, is perhaps its most haunting and personal. Inspired by the senseless killing of Arbery, Collier’s saxophone weeps over a stark, contemplative backdrop provided by his ensemble. The piece meditates on the unbearable weight of racial violence in America, transforming grief into a solemn tribute to Arbery and countless others whose lives were taken too soon. It’s moments like this that underscore the album’s dual function as both an artistic statement and a demand for societal reckoning.
Yet, Collier’s vision extends beyond American borders. On tracks like The Hate You Give is the Love You Lose and Crash, the music shifts to a broader, global perspective, weaving in stories of genocide, economic collapse, and war-torn nations. The Chosen Few’s interplay here is impeccable—each member contributes to the larger narrative with both restraint and power, moving seamlessly between frenetic energy and quiet contemplation. Collier’s saxophone soars over free-flowing drum rolls and arco bass lines, a voice that speaks not just to suffering, but to resilience.
In The World Is On Fire, Collier embraces his role as a torchbearer for Jazz’s socially conscious legacy. Tracks like Metamorphosis evoke the transcendent explorations of Wayne Shorter’s last quartet, yet Collier brings his own vision to the table, examining the shifts in leadership, culture, and identity in a post-pandemic world. His reverence for tradition is balanced by an eagerness to innovate, and it’s this balance that makes the album both timeless and vital.
The closing track, We Don’t Even Know Where We’re Heading, ends the album on a note of introspection. With lush vocals from guest artists like Kiela Adira and Manasseh Croft, Collier creates a collective soundscape that reflects on uncertainty but leaves room for hope. The ensemble swells into a powerful, final crescendo—an embodiment of Collier’s belief in the potential for transformation amidst chaos.
In the tradition of spiritual Jazz giants like Sun Ra and Pharoah Sanders, Collier weaves music and activism into a cohesive whole, but The World Is On Fire isn’t simply a rehash of the past. It is an album firmly rooted in the present, with its eyes trained on the future. Each note, each pause, each explosion of sound serves as a reminder of the weight of our moment in history. Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few have created not just a collection of songs, but a resonant call to action, leaving listeners with a singular message: the world may be on fire, but there is still time to shape what comes next.
Track Listing:
The Time Is Now; Trials and Tribulations; Amerikkka The Ugly; Ahmaud Arbery; The Hate You Give Is The Love You Lose; Crash; Our Truth Is Marching On; Metamorphosis (The Effect Of The Butterfly Remains Unknown);The World Is On Fire; We Don't Even Know Where We're Headed
Personnel
Isaiah Collier • Sax, Vocals, Auxiliary Percussion
Michael Shekwoaga Ode • Drums
Julian Davis Reid • Piano
Jeremiah Hunt • Bass
Kenthany Rodman • Flute
Mayshell Morris • Flute
Corey Wilkes • Trumpet
Ed Wilkerson Jr. • Alto Clarinet
Cassie Watson Francillon • Harp
Olula Negre • Cello
Vocals • Manasseh Croft; Kiela Adira; Jessica Walton; Meghan McNeal