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 is 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) and 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 the filmmakers  Cauleen Smith  and Ja’Tovia Gary; the sculptrice Kennedy Yanko; the painter Leslie Hewitt  and the interdisclinary artist, Theaster Gates.  These collaboarations 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 release,  The 7th Hand topped  numerous  year-end lists including Jazzwise, NPR, The New York Times, The Financial Times and Jazz Times. 2022 also opened up new touring opportunities for Wilkins’ Quartet. They had the opportunity to tour extensively  throughout the US, Canada  and Europe including notable  performances at the Montreal Jazz Festival,  The Monterey Jazz Festival,  Umbria, the Northsea, Pori Jazz,  Newport, The Kennedy Center, The Library of Congress, SFJazz and the Elb Philharmonie.
 
In addition  to  touring as a  leader  Wilkins, continues to  record and share the bandstand  with both his peers and his longtime mentors including: Jason Moran, Kenny Barron, Wynton Marsalis, Bob Dylan, Solange, Joel Ross,  Gerald Clayton and Lalah Hathaway to name just a handful.
 
In 2023, Wilkins  was awarded with three Downbeat  Critics Poll Awards: Best Alto Saxophonist, Best Risng Star Composer and  Best Rising Star Group and 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 3rd recording on Blue Note:  Blues Blood