ABOUT THE SHOW

Isaiah J. Thompson is the winner of the 2023 American Pianists Awards and the Cole Porter Fellowship in Jazz of the American Pianists Association (APA). Originally from West Orange, New Jersey, the pianist, bandleader, and composer has emerged as a rising star in jazz. He honed his skills at The Calderone School of Music and continued his education at The Juilliard School, earning both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.

Thompson has collaborated with esteemed artists like Christian McBride and Cécile McLorin Salvant, and his recording debut was with Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis. He contributed to the soundtrack of the Golden Globe nominated film Motherless Brooklyn and earned recognition as a Steinway Artist. In addition to the APA Fellowship in Jazz—the same award achieved by perennial Convos favorite Emmet Cohen, Thompson achieved second place in the 2018 Thelonious Monk Competition. His performances aim to convey love, spirit, and respect, reflecting his personal journey and passion for jazz.