Recording of the Week, Immanuel Wilkins - Blues Blood

Following last week’s review of Samara Joy’s Portrait, our most recent Recording of the Week comes from an equally prodigious young American musician currently tearing up the scene. Blues Blood, the new album from 27 year-old saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, explores a range of deep, interconnected themes rooted in Black history, culture and the ongoing struggle for justice. As a composer, musician and bandleader, Wilkins often infuses his music with insightful social commentary, and his latest release is no exception.

His third Blue Note album to date, Blues Blood draws on the account of the Harlem Six in part by weaving together emotional and historical elements of their experiences into its thematic narrative. The group of six young African-American men, who were wrongfully accused and convicted in New York in the 1960s, represent a significant episode of racial injustice in American history, and Wilkins’ music – known for its socially conscious themes and expressive nature – provides a powerful medium that alludes to their story. Again, the title itself evokes the painful legacy of racial oppression, with "blues" symbolising the suffering and endurance of Black communities throughout history. Wilkins frequently addresses questions of identity in his work, and this latest album can also be seen as a meditation on his own cultural heritage. 

Jazz and blues, deeply rooted in African-American history, serve as powerful vehicles to express pride, pain and the complexities of identity. On album opener ‘MATTE GLAZE’, Wilkins adapts a haiku penned by social practice installation artist Theaster Gates into a lush invocation of his concept of ‘vesselhood’, previously explored on The 7th Hand and rendered delicately by guest vocalist June McDoom. Across his previous works, Wilkins has woven in themes of spirituality, and Blues Blood continues this thread, exploring the ways music can act as a form of healing and resistance against systemic trauma and injustice.

As part of a multimedia project focused on ancestral connections, the music of Blues Blood embodies the spirit of resistance – both personal and collective – against social injustice. It also emphasises the importance of honouring cultural memories that may have been forgotten or left unspoken. For instance, Wilkins highlights the significance of family meals and the sharing of recipes as a form of cultural transmission, viewing these sensory experiences as artefacts passed from one generation to the next.

The album contrasts a series of ambient vignettes and otherworldly interludes, including a West African drumming circle involving regular collaborator Kweku Sumbry, backwards-played vocals and candid yet inspiring quotes and stories from Wilkins’ associates. It also stands out for featuring a gifted lineup of unique vocalists, a first for one of the saxophonist’s releases. Gospel artist Yaw Agyeman and Ganavya, whose mesmerising Tamil vocals on tracks like ‘EVERYTHING’ and ‘AFTERLIFE RESIDENCE TIME’ create an enigmatic atmosphere, are joined by the renowned Cécile McLorin Salvant, whose timeless croons on ‘DARK EYES SMILE’ add a touch of enduring magic.

The title track serves as a fitting conclusion that closes the album, with Wilkin’s ensemble coming together in a powerful display of instrumental energy and fully embracing the "now" sound. As their spirited post-bop explorations gradually give way to a more reflective, unhurried soundscape, the piece reminds listeners of the transcendent voyage that has unfolded over the album’s nearly hour-long duration, leaving us with the sense of wisdom we should carry forward.

Through an unmatchable blend of melody and improvisation, reinforced by rhythmic ostinati and vamps, the saxophonist captures the strength and resilience of Black communities, standing resolute against adversity. Blues Blood weaves blues and jazz traditions into a modern sensibility that induces a shared nostalgia for times past, highlighting the power of community and underscoring the importance of preserving and passing down cultural knowledge through art. Wilkins interlaces these themes into a profound personal and political journey, using the language of jazz to express the struggles, triumphs and complexities of the contemporary African-American experience.