News | Feb, 10th 2021 share A pianist, bandleader, composer, and alumnus of both Essentially Ellington and the Jack Rudin Jazz Championship, Isaiah J. Thompson is no stranger to #BlackExcellence. So, we asked him to share some figures and works of art that have inspired his music. “What I have listed is by no means all encompassing of all Black influence upon my artistry," he says. "There are truly so many to name. Greats such as Charles Mingus, Miles Davis and Billie Holiday are not included on this list, but their impact is felt deeply. What I’ve written has been personalized for this given moment in my life.”