The 7th Hand

The 7th Hand is a major work. It travels dazzlingly from tranquility and comfort to ambivalence, restlessness, and impatience before it engages re-entry, rebirth, and transcendence. — AllMusic, January 2022, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 28th Jan 2022
Catalogue No: 3832750
Label: Blue Note

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Editor's Choice

February 2022
AllMusic

Editor's Choice

January 2022
Presto Recording of the Week

4th February 2022
Presto Recordings of the Year

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Recording of the Week, Immanuel Wilkins, 'The 7th Hand'

4th February 2022

Immanuel Wilkins follows up his celebrated debut Omega with an equally ambitious project, exploring spiritual and free jazz sounds in pursuit of what the saxophonist calls 'vesselhood'.

Alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins follows-up his acclaimed debut Omega (NY Times Best Jazz Album of 2020) with another striking album featuring his remarkable quartet with Micah Thomas on piano, Daryl Johns on bass, and Kweku Sumbry on drums plus special guest appearances by flutist Elena Pinderhughes and the Farafina Kan Percussion Ensemble

The album consists of an hour-long suite comprised of seven movements that strive to bring the quartet closer to complete vesselhood by the end, where the music would be entirely improvised, channeled collectively. The title is derived from a question steeped in Biblical symbolism: If the number six represents the extent of human possibility, Wilkins wondered how it would sound to invoke divine intervention and allow that seventh element to possess his quartet. “It’s the idea of being a conduit for the music as a higher power that actually influences what we’re playing,” he says.

Reviews

January 2022

The 7th Hand is a major work. It travels dazzlingly from tranquility and comfort to ambivalence, restlessness, and impatience before it engages re-entry, rebirth, and transcendence.

February 2022

Not unlike his biggest hero Kenny Garrett, Wilkins on The 7th Hand plays the alto with a deceivingly wispy yet soulful tone. Among other achievements is his delivery of intricate solos with an eloquent narrative development that constantly remains succinct and melody driven.

The 7th Hand

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Recording of the Week, Immanuel Wilkins, 'The 7th Hand'

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The 7th Hand

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