Immanuel Wilkins (born 1997, Upper Darby, Pennsylvania) is an alto saxophonist, composer, and multidisciplinary artist based in New York. He signed to Blue Note Records and broke through with his debut album Omega (2020), which the New York Times named the #1 jazz album of the year; two further studio albums followed - The 7th Hand (2022) and Blues Blood (2024) - each landing on major year-end lists. His quartet, a working band since 2017, has earned him the DownBeat Critics Poll Alto Saxophonist of the Year title in both 2024 and 2025, a Deutscher Jazz Preis for best international live act, and multiple Grammy nominations.
Wilkins released the first volume of his live trilogy 'Immanuel Wilkins Quartet: Live at the Village Vanguard' on Blue Note Records, with Vol. 2 and Vol. 3 following in consecutive months.
Blues Blood received two 2026 Grammy nominations: Best Alternative Jazz Album and Best Jazz Performance (for 'Noble Rise', shared with Lakecia Benjamin and Mark Whitfield).
Wilkins was awarded a 2025 Civitella Ranieri Fellowship, adding to his 2023 Creative Capital Award and 2023 Pew Fellowship.
Wilkins performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam.
Blues Blood, Wilkins' third studio album co-produced by Meshell Ndegeocello and featuring vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant, was released on Blue Note Records.
