Alto saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins burst onto the musical scene in 2020 with the release of his Blue Note recording debut, Omega, featuring his longstanding quartet. Although just 22 at the time of its release, his quartet had already been together for over four years, and their cohesiveness and musicality are reflected in both the maturity of Wilkins’ sound and the sophistication and depth of his compositions. Accolades and press soon followed, including Omega being named the best new jazz release of 2020 by the New York Times, the best debut jazz album by NPR, and being nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Best Jazz Recording of 2020.

Being a bandleader with a working group has allowed Wilkins to grow both as a composer and as an arranger and has led to him receiving numerous commissions and grants, including:

• The National Jazz Museum in Harlem Commission (2020)

• The Jazz Gallery Artist Residency Commission (in collaboration with Sidra Bell Dance NY, 2020)

• The Kimmel Center Artist in Residence Commission Program (in collaboration with photographer Rog Walker and videographer David Dempewolf, 2020)

• The Roulette Emerging Artist Commission Program (2021)

• The South Arts Creativity Residency Grant (with fellow saxophonist and mentor Odean Pope, 2022)

• The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage Grant (in collaboration with saxophonist Odean Pope and poet Herman Beavers, 2023)

Wilkins constantly seeks out opportunities for creative connections with artists both within and outside the world of jazz. The realm of visual arts is of particular interest to Wilkins. He has worked with filmmakers Cauleen Smith and Ja’Tovia Gary, the sculptor Kennedy Yanko, the painter Leslie Hewitt, and the interdisciplinary artist Theaster Gates. These collaborations have played a decisive role in his ever-expanding aesthetic vision.

In 2022, Wilkins released his sophomore album on Blue Note, The 7th Hand. Like his debut, The 7th Hand topped numerous year-end lists including Jazzwise, NPR, The New York Times, The Financial Times, and Jazz Times. 2022 also opened new touring opportunities for Wilkins’ Quartet. They toured extensively throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe, including notable performances at the Montreal Jazz Festival, The Monterey Jazz Festival, Umbria, North Sea, Pori Jazz, Newport, The Kennedy Center, The Library of Congress, SFJazz, and the Elbphilharmonie.

In addition to touring as a leader, Wilkins continues to record and share the bandstand with both his peers and longtime mentors, including Jason Moran, Kenny Barron, Wynton Marsalis, Bob Dylan, Solange, Joel Ross, Gerald Clayton, and Lalah Hathaway.

In 2023, Wilkins was awarded three Downbeat Critics Poll Awards: Best Alto Saxophonist, Best Rising Star Composer, and Best Rising Star Group. In 2024, his quartet won the prize for Best International Live Act of the Year by the German Deutscher Jazz Preis. On October 11, 2024, Wilkins released his third recording on Blue Note: Blues Blood.

Immanuel Wilkins (alto sax); Micah Thomas (piano); Rick Rosato (bass); Kweku Sumbry (drums)

Kennebec
Kennebec is the musical outlet of Eric Phillips, a composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist currently living in Portland, Oregon by way of Boston MA. He draws from an eclectic array of influences including left field ambient/electronic music, folk, hip-hop, indie rock and soundtracks to create his own unique style of cinematic music.