Celebrating over a quarter century of music making, the three-time GRAMMY® nominated group has led both a revolution and evolution of the wind quintet through their dynamic playing, adventurous programming, imaginative collaborations and outreach endeavors that have inspired audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

The ensemble’s playlist embraces traditional chamber music repertoire and newly-commissioned works reflecting the times in which we live. Recent and upcoming projects include a new double quintet by Arturo Sandoval, featuring Boston Brass; a Jessie Montgomery composition inspired by her great-grandfather’s migration from the American south to the north; and a work by Carlos Simon celebrating iconic figures of the African American community — commissioned works included in their long-standing Legacy Commissioning Project. Reflecting on the issues of mass incarceration, Imani Winds’ 11th studio recording, “BeLonging” by and with Andy Akiho, was released in June 2024.

Imani Winds has toured with virtually every major chamber music series, performing arts center, and summer festival in the U.S. They regularly perform in prominent venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center, and have performed throughout Asia, Brazil, Australia, England, New Zealand and Europe. Residencies include performances, workshops, and masterclasses to thousands of students each year at institutions such as the University of Chicago, Eastman School of Music and Duke University.

Appointed in 2021 as Curtis Institute of Music’s first ever Faculty Wind Quintet, Imani Winds commitment to education runs deep. The highly successful Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival, launched in 2010, is an annual summer program devoted to musical excellence and career development for pre-professional instrumentalists and composers.  In 2019, the group extended their mission even further by creating the non-profit organization, Imani Winds Foundation, which exists to support, connect and uplift their initiatives.

Imani Winds’ travels through the jazz world include their association with luminary musicians and composers Wayne Shorter, Paquito D’Rivera and Jason Moran. Their ambitious project, “Josephine Baker: A Life of Le Jazz Hot!” featured jazz songstress René Marie in performances that brought the house down in venues across the USA.

In 2021, Imani Winds released their 9th studio album, “Bruits” on Bright Shiny Things Records, which received a 2022 GRAMMY® nomination for “Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance.” Gramophone states, “the ensemble’s hot rapport churns with conviction throughout.”  Imani Winds has recordings on Koch International Classics and E1 Music, including their 2006 GRAMMY® nominated recording, “The Classical Underground”. They have also recorded for Naxos and Blue Note and released an acclaimed arrangement of Stravinsky’s “Rite of Spring” on Warner Classics. They are regularly heard on all media platforms including NPR, the BBC, and SiriusXM, among others.

To date, one of Imani Winds’ most humbling recognitions is a permanent presence in the classical music section of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC.

Website: https://imaniwinds.com/