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
Motion I - Out Of/Into
Blues Blood - Immanuel Wilkins
Here It Is: A Tribute to Leonard Cohen
The 7th Hand - Immanuel Wilkins
Omega - Immanuel Wilkins
Videos
Immanuel Wilkins “MATTE GLAZE” (Official Video)
Immanuel Wilkins “First Look” With Don Was
Immanuel Wilkins “Blues Blood” (Album Trailer)
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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OUT OF/INTO “MOTION I”
The history of Blue Note Records — jazz’s preeminent record label, and one of the most storied imprints in all of music — is defined by a seamless blend of tradition and innovation. From the advent of hard bop to the label’s knack for elevating the greatest young talent in jazz, the Blue Note story has unfolded over the past 85 years with equal regard for jazz’s past and its... read more
IMMANUEL WILKINS “BLUES BLOOD”
By Marcus J. Moore You don’t appreciate growing up until you look in the mirror and notice something’s different. Though maturing in itself is the act of physical and hormonal evolution, it’s not until you’re in a foreign city, eating something an elder used to cook to see how it compares, that you long for yesteryear. You start to miss that rickety screen door and the couch that no... read more
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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OUT OF/INTO RELEASE NEW SINGLE “GABALDON’S GLIDE”
The Blue Note Records story has unfolded over the past 85 years with equal regard for jazz’s past and its future, a seamless blend of tradition and innovation, and a mission to elevate the greatest young talent in jazz. Out Of/Into, the all-star collective that began its life earlier this year as the Blue Note... read more
ANNOUNCING “MOTION I” BY OUT OF/INTO FEATURING GERALD CLAYTON, JOEL ROSS, IMMANUEL WILKINS, KENDRICK SCOTT & MATT BREWER
The history of Blue Note Records is defined by a seamless blend of tradition and innovation. From the advent of hard bop to the label’s knack for elevating the greatest young talent in jazz, the Blue Note story has unfolded over the past 85 years with equal regard for jazz’s past and its future. Out Of/Into, the... read more
IMMANUEL WILKINS SHARES “DARK EYES SMILE” FEATURING CÉCILE McLORIN SALVANT
Immanuel Wilkins has shared “DARK EYES SMILE” featuring vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant, a poignant new song from the acclaimed saxophonist and composer’s highly anticipated third studio album Blues Blood out Oct. 11. A meditative offering co-produced by Meshell Ndegeocello, the album features Wilkins’... read more
IMMANUEL WILKINS ANNOUNCES “BLUES BLOOD” OUT OCT. 11
On October 11, acclaimed saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins will release his expansive third studio album Blues Blood, a meditative offering co-produced by Meshell Ndegeocello that features his quartet with Micah Thomas on piano, Rick Rosato on bass, and Kweku Sumbry on drums; vocalists Ganavya, June McDoom,... read more
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
Jan 15
Immanuel Wilkins
Immanuel WIlkins Quartet @ Flagey, Brussels/BE, Brussels Belgium
Jan 16
Immanuel Wilkins
Immanuel WIlkins Quartet @ The New Morning, Paris/FR, Paris France
Jan 18
Immanuel Wilkins
Immanuel WIlkins Quartet @ Lantaren Venster, Rotterdam/NL, Rotterdam Netherlands
Jan 19
Immanuel Wilkins
Immanuel WIlkins Quartet @ Bimhuis, Amsterdam/NL, Amsterdam Netherlands
Jan 22
Immanuel Wilkins
Immanuel WIlkins Quartet @ Philharmonie Luxembourg, Luxembourg/LU, Luxembourg Luxembourg
Feb 27
Immanuel Wilkins
Immanuel Wilkins Quartet @ The PDX Jazz Festival, Portland/OR, Portland United States
Feb 28
Immanuel Wilkins
Immanuel WIlkins Quartet @ The Triple Door, Seattle/WA, Seattle United States
