Immanuel Wilkins

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Immanuel Wilkins is an up-and-coming alto-saxophonist whose playing, while it occasionally hints at Eric Dolphy and Greg Osby, is already quite original.

He grew up near Philadelphia, moved to NYC after graduating from high school to study at Juilliard, and was given invaluable assistance and informal lessons by Ambrose Akinmusire and Jason Moran (who took him on tour).

Since then, Wilkins has worked with Wynton Marsalis, Gretchen Parlato, Gerald Clayton, Aaron Parks, and Joel Ross (with whom he recorded) in addition to his own groups.

For this spirited rendition of his modern jazz original “Warriors,” Immanuel Wilkins is joined by pianist Micah Thomas (who takes an impressive solo), bassist Daryl Johns, and drummer Kweku Sumbry.

One can hear abstract hints of the past in the altoist’s uptempo improvisation while he is blazing a path for the future.

-Scott Yanow

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