IMMANUEL WILKINS
Immanuel Wilkins
Immanuel Wilkins is a Grammy-nominated alto saxophonist, composer, and multidisciplinary artist based in New York City, widely regarded as one of the most important voices to emerge in jazz in recent years. Raised in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, he studied at The Juilliard School before establishing himself in New York, where he leads his longstanding quartet with pianist Micah Thomas, bassist Daryl Johns, and drummer Kweku Sumbry. His 2020 Blue Note debut Omega was named the year's best jazz album by The New York Times and NPR, earning him the LetterOne Rising Stars Award. His 2022 follow-up The 7th Hand topped year-end lists at Jazzwise, NPR, the New York Times, Financial Times, and JazzTimes. His 2024 album Blues Blood earned a Grammy nomination and appeared on year-end lists from AllMusic, NPR, and Spin. In 2026, he released three live albums recorded at the Village Vanguard, demonstrating his prolific creative output and commitment to documentation of improvised music. Wilkins has received the 2023 Creative Capital Award, a Pew Fellowship, and was named DownBeat's Alto Saxophonist of the Year in both the 2024 and 2025 Critics Poll. He teaches at NYU and The New School.
Bio
Immanuel Wilkins is a Grammy-nominated alto saxophonist, composer, and multidisciplinary artist based in New York City, widely regarded as one of the most important voices to emerge in jazz in recent years. Raised in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, he studied at The Juilliard School before establishing himself in New York, where he leads his longstanding quartet with pianist Micah Thomas, bassist Daryl Johns, and drummer Kweku Sumbry. His 2020 Blue Note debut Omega was named the year's best jazz album by The New York Times and NPR, earning him the LetterOne Rising Stars Award. His 2022 follow-up The 7th Hand topped year-end lists at Jazzwise, NPR, the New York Times, Financial Times, and JazzTimes. His 2024 album Blues Blood earned a Grammy nomination and appeared on year-end lists from AllMusic, NPR, and Spin. In 2026, he released three live albums recorded at the Village Vanguard, demonstrating his prolific creative output and commitment to documentation of improvised music. Wilkins has received the 2023 Creative Capital Award, a Pew Fellowship, and was named DownBeat's Alto Saxophonist of the Year in both the 2024 and 2025 Critics Poll. He teaches at NYU and The New School.
Coordinates
- Handle
- immanuel-wilkins