Immanuel Wilkins Quartet

Name: Immanuel Wilkins Quartet
Start: 2023-03-25T19:30:00
End: 2023-03-25T19:30:00
Location: UW Memorial Union-Play Circle

Mar 25, 2023 7:30 PM

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UW Memorial Union-Play Circle 800 Langdon St., Madison, Wisconsin 53706

June 14, 2022

11:53 AM

Rog Walter

Immanuel Wilkins

While studying at Julliard in the 2010s, saxophonist and composer Immanuel Wilkins concurrently built a career as an in-demand player for artists ranging from Bob Dylan to Solange Knowles to Wynton Marsalis. At the same time, Wilkins assembled the quartet featured on his first two Blue Note albums as a bandleader. The most recent, The 7th Hand from 2022, displays the quartet’s ability to fluidly play with and against each other, particularly when getting challengingly free on the 26-minute “Lift.” For this spring tour, Wilkins' quartet includes pianist Micah Thomas, drummer Kweku Sumbry, and bassist Rick Rosato (a recent addition to the band). Tickets were very limited as of this week, but a livestream will be available; find more info at artsticketing.wisc.edu.

media release: Immanuel Wilkins is a saxophonist, composer, educator, and bandleader from the greater Philadelphia area. While growing up, Wilkins honed his skills in the church and studied in programs dedicated to teaching jazz music like the Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts. After moving to New York in 2015, he proceeded to earn his bachelor’s degree in Music at Juilliard (studying with the saxophonists Bruce Williams and the late, great Joe Temperley) while simultaneously establishing himself as an in demand sideperson, touring in Japan, Europe, South America, The United Arab Emirates, and the United States and working and/or recording with artists like Jason Moran, the Count Basie Orchestra, Delfeayo Marsalis, Joel Ross, Aaron Parks, Gerald Clayton, Gretchen Parlato, Lalah Hathaway, Solange Knowles, Bob Dylan, and Wynton Marsalis to name just a few. It was also during this same period that he formed his quartet featuring his long-time bandmates: Micah Thomas(piano),Daryl Johns(bass)and Kweku Sumbry(drums).

Being a bandleader with a working group for over four years has allowed Wilkins to grow both as a composer and as an arranger — and has led to him receiving a number of commissions including, most recently, from The National Jazz Museum in Harlem, The Jazz Gallery Artist Residency Commission Program (A collaboration with Sidra Bell Dance NY, 2020 ) and The Kimmel Center Artist in Residence for 2020 ( a collaboration with photographer Rog Walker and videographer David Dempewolf.) Being emerged in the scene at a young age and sharing the stage with various jazz masters has inspired Wilkins to pursue his goal of being a positive force in both music and in society. This includes quite an impressive resumé as an educator. In addition to teaching at NYU and the New School, he has taught and given master classes and clinics at schools/venues like Oberlin, Yale and the Kimmel Center. Ultimately, Wilkins’ mission is to create music and to develop a voice that has a profound spiritual and emotional impact.

By studying the humanity and the cultural specificity of jazz, Wilkins aspires to bring people together through his art.

Single tickets are available for purchase. Union Members save 10% on full-price tickets!