Following the buzz around his debut Omega released in 2020 on Blue Note, the 24-year-old Philadelphia born-and-raised alto saxophonist-composer Immanuel Wilkins raises the bar further with the same quartet for his latest release The 7th Hand. 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.

Aside from featuring Wilkins’ ensemble of four years, including the awesome young pianist Micah Thomas, it also showcases Wilkins’ natural flair for writing memorable themes of real substance. That being said, the Henry Threadgill-ish opener ‘Emanation’, smoothly tender R&B ballad ‘Fugitive Ritual, Selah’, bluesy shuffle of ‘Shadow’ and enigmatic ‘Witness’, which features flutist Elena Pinderhughes (of Christian Scott’s band), don’t in the least prepare the listener for the final track ‘Lift’, a relentless 26-minute plus entirely improvised opus that comes across as something of a homage to the Late Trane. It might have some listeners reaching for the off button but it has an infectious energy that’s somehow perfectly in tune with the album’s spirit of exploration.