February 3, 2021
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 original pieces—“Grace and Mercy,” “Warriors,” and “The Dreamer”—from Wilkins’ acclaimed debut album Omega, which was named the #1 Jazz Album of 2020 by The New York Times, and just yesterday was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album (Instrumental). The album will also be given a vinyl release on May 14 with black vinyl available for pre-order now on the Blue Note Store, as well as an exclusive Vinyl Me, Please pressing on opaque blue vinyl.
Omega, which was produced by Jason Moran, is an expansive opus about the Black experience in America. With powerful pieces like “Mary Turner – An American Tradition” and “Ferguson – An American Tradition,” Wilkins wanted to convey the deep pain his people have endured in this country for centuries. But the pain is balanced with moments of uplift, too, as on “The Dreamer,” a gorgeous ballad based on the poem “A Mid-Day Dreamer” by author, teacher, and activist James Weldon Johnson. “‘Grace and Mercy’ is about how God has shown me favor throughout my life, given me forgiveness, and mercy,” says Wilkins. “I’m continuously striving to gain more compassion, empathy, forgiveness and humility.” The album’s opening track “Warriors” is a bright tune that celebrates the love that’s closest to you. “It’s about friendships, family, your hood, and your community,” he says. “It’s about us serving as warriors for whatever we believe in.”
“Immanuel has always been leaning forward into the music,” says Moran. “He is a powerful player. He blends traditions in a way that only his generation knows how to do. His band is set to begin a new mode that I look forward to hearing develop. The future of the music rests with these musicians, and I trust their noses.”
Watch Wilkins discuss Omega with Blue Note President Don Was on First Look.
RAVE REVIEWS FOR OMEGA:
“Omega is the most important debut jazz recording in years”—JazzTimes
“Wilkins composes ocean-deep jazz epics”—Pitchfork
“an alto saxophonist whose playing is at once dazzlingly solid and perfectly lithe”—New York Times
“An impressively astute and knowledgeable artist, Immanuel Wilkins‘ debut album Omega weaves Black history throughout his melodious opus”—ESSENCE
“The brilliance of the altoist and composer is plainly evident on each track of Omega, as is the deep and transformative talents of the young quartet he leads… The future of jazz is in the hands of musicians like Wilkins.”—AllAboutJazz
