The Almighty

Album review

Isaiah Collier believes in music with a message. Not to mention drive and volume. On his first widely distributed release, the Chicago-based tenor saxophonist makes these intentions clear from the thunderous first track, "LOVE," with guest vocalist Dee Alexander singing, "Give me peace and joy and loving, harmonies and honesty/ I know we can move and love with our all,  joining as one." Collier is clearly a huge blossoming talent and listening to his growth on The Almighty is a fascinating ride.

In "Compassion" he plays two slow, rich parts that are overdubbed into an intertwining duo. With Coltrane's A Love Supreme as the obvious model,  Collier returns to direct messaging in "Perspective (Peace and Love)," where an unnamed chorus of voices chant "peace and love" throughout. The four-part "Duality Suite" begins with a snappy horn figure and features more skronking and shrieking from Collier as the pace and volume rise from the first notes.

The over-18-minutes-long title track opens with hollow wooden chimes, shakers and the sounds of a thunderstorm that give way to a solo from pianist Julian Davis Reid.  Collier's quartet partners of Reid and bassist Jeremiah Hunt are both fine, muscular players, but overly-energetic drummer Michael Shekwoaga Ode's playing is often busy and loud, and could benefit from being lower in the mix. Recorded by Sizwe Banzi Butler, the mix is most often a cacophonous wall of sound. The full-bore volume and the relentless pace gives Collier free reign to play stridently throughout and the nuance-free bursts drop no hints as to what he would or could do with more contemplative music.  But that's a question for the future. The Almighty is a big, bravura piece that hammers home positivity and is a forceful announcement that a mighty new saxophone talent is on the international scene. © Robert Baird/Qobuz