The Isaiah J. Thompson Quartet

The story behind pianist Isaiah J. Thompson’s album The Book of Isaiah: Modern Jazz Ministry is not what you might expect. This is not an album by a musician who grew up in the church and now combines gospel with jazz. Thompson first and foremost developed as an outstanding jazz pianist – away from the church – collaborating at a young age with greats such as Wynton Marsalis, Christian McBride and John Pizzarelli. His career seemed to be thriving, until tendonitis in both arms forced him to pause. That injury, caused by overplaying, led to an existential crisis: if I can’t play, who am I? What does my existence actually mean? Thompson began studying the Biblical Book of Isaiah, took classes at Fuller Theological Seminary, found connection in a contemporary, non-denominational congregation and was baptized in 2022. The result is a swinging, soulful record inspired by jazz icons such as Duke Ellington, Mary Lou Williams and John Coltrane, in which Thompson explores the blues as a way of life: light against dark, faith against doubt.