Isaiah Spencer Quartet
Saturday, September 27
TIME: 1:00pm-2:00pm
VENUE: smart museum. 5550 South Greenwood Ave.
A photo of Isaiah Spencer playing drums on stage (photo by Dave Rempis). Followed by a photo of Isaiah Spencer seated in an orange chair against a white back drop while holding drum sticks; Isaiah is smiling and looking at the camera while wearing a red suit jacket and Star Wars shirt. Followed by a photo of Isaiah Spencer smiling and facing the camera against a white back drop; Isaiah is holding a cymbal under his right arm and wearing a navy blue suit jacket and blue shirt.
Isaiah spencer
With his edgy style and innovative beats, jazz and blues drummer Isaiah Spencer has carved out a unique reputation in Chicago and on the national and international music scenes. The Chicago Tribune has called his sound “propulsive” and “incendiary.” The Chicago Morning Star described it as “fiery.”
Spencer, a North Side native, has performed not only at U.S. festivals including the Chicago Blues Festival, Chicago Jazz Festival, and Blues on the Fox, but also internationally at festivals such as the Montreux Jazz Festival, Red Sea Jazz Festival, Sons D’ Hiver, and Umbria Jazz Festival. He has taken the stage with legends including Fred Anderson, Roy Hargrove, Johnny O’Neal, and Donald Harrison, and has toured with William Parker, Cyrus Chestnut, and others.
Spencer studied under Dr. Curtis Prince in Chicago’s All-City Jazz Band and was part of the Ravinia Jazz in the Schools program, where he was nurtured by Dana Hall and Ernie Adams. During his time in Gallery 37, a paid summer job teaching the arts to youth, he also studied with legendary jazz educator Ronald Carter. He went on to study music performance at Roosevelt University in Chicago.
Spencer is currently a percussion teacher and the assistant band director at New Trier High School. He also directs his own drum camp program and, through volunteer work and mentoring, teaches children how music can help them navigate obstacles and propel them to greater heights.
The musicians: