Immanuel Wilkins: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

NPR Music's Tiny Desk series will celebrate Black History Month by featuring four weeks of Tiny Desk (home) concerts and playlists by Black artists spanning different genres and generations each week. The lineup includes both emerging and established artists who will be performing a Tiny Desk concert for the first time. This celebration highlights the beautiful cornucopia of Black music and our special way of presenting it. We hope you enjoy.

Suraya Mohamed | February 3, 2021
Candles and books rest on a trunk at the bottom right corner of the wide shot. There, too, are special photographs of alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins with family in his childhood home in Philadelphia. "One of the brightest things about this pandemic was going home to spend time with my mother, father and grandmother after being on the road for a while," Wilkins told NPR recently.

He also had time to meet up with his long time bandmates — Micah Thomas on piano, Daryl Johns on bass, Kweku Sumbry on drums —in Manhattan's Sear Sound studio to record this set. The quartet has been playing together for years, which is remarkable considering Wilkins is only 23 years old. In 2019, they recorded Wilkins' debut album, Omega, and released it last year to high acclaim. The project is all about Blackness, Black theory, the Black experience and the struggle and triumph that go with it all.

With a carefully crafted form and melody, "Grace and Mercy" is a lyrical story about peace, forgiveness and humility. "Warriors" is a driving, dynamic tune that conveys the shield of protection provided by our inner circles. "The Dreamer" is a tender piece that honors the Black writer and activist James Weldon Johnson and is based on his poem "A Midday Dreamer." The opening lines are played effortlessly on bass by Johns and when Wilkins joins in, his melodic saxophone exudes the rhythm of the poem's first stanza: "I love to sit alone, and dream, and dream, and dream..."

SET LIST
"Grace and Mercy"
"Warriors"
"The Dreamer"

MUSICIANS
Immanuel Wilkins: saxophone
Daryl Johns: bass
Micah Thomas: piano
Kweku Sumbry: drums

CREDITS
Video and Audio: Brandon Unpingco, Alessio Romano for Studio 42 Brooklyn and Chris Allen
Creative Direction: Sekai Abeni, Machel Ross
Scenic Design: Frank Oliva, Rodrigo Fernandez
Lighting Consultant: Cheyenne Sykes

TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Video Producer: Morgan Noelle Smith
Audio Mastering: Josh Rogosin
Art Director: CJ Riculan
Associate Producer: Bobby Carter
Tiny Production Team: Bob Boilen, Kara Frame, Maia Stern
Executive Producer: Lauren Onkey
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann

[sullenpuffin]

23 years old... jazz is in a good place

[fabivilla]

The bassist is incredible...so much s p a c e. Also the cinematography !

[makininiliwaambieni]

The drummer’s accents and timing are impeccable throughout. Pianist is all into those 88’s!! Warriors...I can see dance choreography with that piece. Y’all are standing on...no dancing on the shoulders of the jazz musician ancestors and obviously listening well! Keep pushing!!!

[tylerblake]

I think Immanuel will soon be looked at as one of the best musicians of our time. His album is incredible!

[quintellatv]

Congrats NPR. Highest level of art. Immanuel Wilkins explores the universe on his saxophone solos.

[strictlyjazzsoundspodcast]

These young musicians are old souls! I’ve played Immanuel Wilkins’ Blue Note inaugural album, “Omega” almost every show (bi-monthly) for the last three months. This is a great album! And he’s only, what? 23, 24 years old!

[petervandewoestijne]

this is what jazz should sound like ....beautiful storytelling....

[PentameronSV]

0:00 - *Grace and Mercy* (8:13)
8:38 - *Warriors*
16:17 - *The Dreamer* (20:31)
[20:40 - Tiny Desk team]

[samhart]

immanuel is probably my favorite living saxophonist, and seeing him get a tiny desk is so exciting, albeit long overdue! excellent set!

[MattMusicianX]

What tight drumming from Kweku Sumbry! And that copper snare drum sounds sweet.

[Tone-xh]

This is what skill and artistry look like. On that last song Daryl Johns just left his body and went somewhere else!

[waleoyejide]

This is gorgeous. I'm grateful to be able to watch history from up close.

[abaneyone]

Tiny Desk really does have it all! Young people that are into jazz like this are on a completely different level, way beyond pop!

[marjorievandyke]

Wow! It was hard to tell where one instrument ended and another began it felt so seamless... three voices becoming many then one. Gorgeous jazz storytelling.

[RayasNegroOvejas]

Wilkins released one of the best straight jazz albums last year. A bit overlooked, I felt like (even though it says it was released to high acclaim in the description)

[chicohuff]

The future of jazz. True dedication, playing as one. Beautiful

[iamaninvestor]

Good news guys, I heard this is the soundtrack to 2021. We are going to be ok.

[abath]

Jazz is alive and very well in the hands and hearts of these fantastic musicians.

[maynardewm]

I love how all of them play. The drummer is such a great listener and does such a great job with the color he adds. The bass player is so solid, I love his tone, his clarity, his sense of time. The pianist is great too although I don't have anything extra to say about his playing. Immanuel's technique is incredible and he is so thoughtful about his lines. He has a fantastic alto tone as well, really full, warm, but also brilliant and cuts through at the same time. Just an amazing combo!

[avantijazz]

Ooooh my! That's an alto sound and a half, I love it. The whole band is rocking up a storm. My my my. Thanks Immanuel and band, and thanks to NPR as always.