Biography
Alto saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins grew up in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia. After he graduated high school, Wilkins moved to New York City in 2015 to attend The Juilliard School. In the city, he met trumpeter and composer Ambrose Akinmusire, who mentored Wilkins and helped him navigate the jazz scene. He also met a musician who would change his professional life, Jason Moran, the prominent pianist and composer who took the young saxophonist on tour. In what was one of Wilkins’ biggest gigs to date, he played alto in Moran’s “In My Mind: Monk at Town Hall, 1959,” a series of live performances honoring the great legacy of jazz pianist Thelonious Monk. Wilkins has since worked with a diverse range of artists including Solange Knowles, Gretchen Parlato, Wynton Marsalis, Gerald Clayton, Aaron Parks, and Joel Ross, making a striking appearance on the vibraphonist’s 2019 Blue Note debut KingMaker.
Releases
Videos
Immanuel Wilkins at PhilaMOCA | NPR Jazz Night In America
Immanuel Wilkins “First Look” With Don Was
IMMANUEL WILKINS “EMANATION/DON’T BREAK” (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
Immanuel Wilkins: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert
Immanuel Wilkins “First Look” with Don Was
SPOTLIGHT
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IMMANUEL WILKINS “THE 7th HAND”
The music of saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins is filled with empathy and conviction, bonding arcs of melody and lamentation to pluming gestures of space and breath. Listeners were introduced to this riveting sound with his acclaimed debut album Omega, which was named the #1 Jazz Album of 2020 by The New York Times. The album also introduced his remarkable quartet with Micah Thomas on... read more
IMMANUEL WILKINS “OMEGA”
When Immanuel Wilkins created the music for “Mary Turner - An American Tradition,” one of many standout songs from his stellar debut album, Omega, he wanted to craft something that spoke directly to the Black experience in America. Wilkins, an alto saxophonist and bandleader from Upper Darby, Pa., wasn’t thinking about anything positive, he wanted to convey the deep pain his people have... read more
News
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THE BLUE NOTE QUINTET TO EMBARK ON 2024 TOUR IN CELEBRATION OF BLUE NOTE’S 85th ANNIVERSARY
The Blue Note Quintet—an all-star collective comprised of Blue Note recording artists pianist and musical director Gerald Clayton, alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, vibraphonist Joel Ross, and drummer Kendrick Scott, as well as bassist Matt Brewer—will embark on an extensive North American tour next month in... read more
IMMANUEL WILKINS RELEASES NEW SINGLE & VIDEO FROM HIS HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED ALBUM “THE 7th HAND” OUT JAN. 28
Alto saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins has released “Don’t Break,” the 2nd single to be revealed from his forthcoming album The 7th Hand due out January 28. The track features Wilkins’ quartet with Micah Thomas on piano, Daryl Johns on bass, and Kweku Sumbry on drums plus the Farafina Kan percussion... read more
IMMANUEL WILKINS ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM “THE 7th HAND” OUT JAN. 28; LISTEN TO THE LEAD TRACK “EMANATION”
Alto saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins has announced a January 28 release for his new album The 7th Hand, the follow-up to his widely acclaimed debut Omega which was named the #1 Jazz Album of 2020 by The New York Times with JazzTimes calling it “the most important debut jazz recording in years.” The 7th... read more
IMMANUEL WILKINS: NPR TINY DESK CONCERT, NAACP IMAGE AWARD NOMINATION & VINYL RELEASE FOR “OMEGA”
NPR Music features alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins and his quartet with pianist Micah Thomas, bassist Daryl Johns, and drummer Kweku Sumbry on the latest episode of their popular Tiny Desk Concert series, which kicks off their celebration of Black History Month. The band delivers stellar performances of three... read more
IMMANUEL WILKINS RELEASES NEW SINGLE “GRACE AND MERCY” FROM DEBUT ALBUM “OMEGA” OUT AUG. 7
Alto saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins has released “Grace and Mercy,” the uplifting second single to be revealed from his forthcoming debut album Omega, which was produced by Jason Moran and will be released August 7 on Blue Note Records. “‘Grace and Mercy’ is about how God has shown me favor... read more
IMMANUEL WILKINS TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM “OMEGA” PRODUCED BY JASON MORAN ON AUG. 7
Alto saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins delivers an expansive opus about the Black experience in America on his remarkable debut album Omega, which will be released August 7 on Blue Note Records. Omega was produced by Jason Moran and features a next-generation quartet with pianist Micah Thomas, bassist Daryl... read more
Live Dates
Sep 03
Immanuel Wilkins
Jazz à La Villette 2024, Paris France
Sep 03
Immanuel Wilkins
Salle des concerts - Cité de la Musique-Philharmonie, Paris 19 Buttes-chaumont France
Oct 10
Immanuel Wilkins
Alte Feuerwache - Halle, Mannheim Germany
Oct 11
Immanuel Wilkins
Fasching, Stockholm Sweden
Nov 21
Immanuel Wilkins
Großer Sendesaal des Hessischen Rundfunks, Frankfurt Am Main Germany
Nov 22
Immanuel Wilkins
Großer Sendesaal des Hessischen Rundfunks, Frankfurt Am Main Germany
