Please join Ars Nova Workshop at Solar Myth on October 18, 2026 for a special closing-night performance by saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins and his remarkable quartet, presented in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Philly Music Fest.

Raised in Upper Darby just outside Philadelphia, Wilkins has emerged as one of the defining voices of his generation—an artist whose music carries both the rigor of jazz tradition and the searching spirit of something urgently new. Since arriving in New York to study at Juilliard, Wilkins has collaborated with artists including Jason Moran, Ambrose Akinmusire, Solange, Wynton Marsalis, and Joel Ross, while establishing his own quartet as one of the most acclaimed working bands in contemporary music.

Featuring pianist Micah Thomas, bassist Ryoma Takenaga, and drummer Kweku Sumbry, the quartet has developed a singular language rooted in deep listening, collective improvisation, and emotional openness. Their recent trilogy, Live at the Village Vanguard, captures the ensemble at full power inside one of jazz’s most sacred rooms—transforming performance into what writer Tina Campt describes as “a practice of improvisational sounding, congregational listening, and devotional ritual.” At a moment when Wilkins is helping redefine the possibilities of modern jazz, this performance offers Philadelphia audiences a chance to experience one of the great living quartets of this era in an intimate setting, while celebrating Philly Music Fest’s decade-long commitment to supporting music education and the city’s creative community.