2LP version. Strictly limited first pressing, the world's first-ever vinyl release of the album. One of the most exciting saxophonists to emerge from the new generation of Chicago jazz, Isaiah Collier reveals the powerful roots of his musical journey on Return Of The Black Emperor, his 2018 debut album with The Chosen Few. Recorded when Collier was just 20 years old, this early landmark captures the remarkable energy, fearless creativity, and spiritual intensity that would go on to define his rapidly developing career.

Drawing deeply from the tradition of spiritual jazz, with the influence of John Coltrane and the rich legacy of Chicago's jazz and improvisational music scene, the album presents a young Collier already developing a distinctive musical voice of his own. The title track, Return Of The Black Emperor, places his soaring saxophone against a tense, heavyweight backdrop of rhythm, piano, and guitar, while War Song erupts with raw, high-energy improvisation. Elsewhere, I Am Who I Be and Before You Go reveal a more introspective side, balancing intensity with emotional depth.

Across 11 tracks and approximately 66 minutes, Collier's broad musical vision comes fully into focus. The spiritual atmosphere of Mali, the gospel roots of Wade In The Water, and the extended 12-minute-plus workout Heath's Groove demonstrate his ability to move freely between spiritual jazz, gospel, improvisation, and contemporary expressions of jazz.

More than simply a debut, Return Of The Black Emperor represents the starting point of Isaiah Collier's ongoing musical exploration, a powerful early statement from an artist who would later establish an increasingly prominent presence in the contemporary jazz world. Rooted in the post-Coltrane spiritual jazz tradition yet determined to express it in the language of his own generation, this is an essential document of a young Chicago saxophonist discovering his voice.

Tracklist: June 11th, Return of The Black Emperor Exp., Return of The Black Emperor, War Song Exp., War Song, I Am Who I Be, Mali, Wade In The Water Exp., Wade In The Water, Heath's Groove, Before You Go.