Imani Winds

Overview

The name "Imani Winds" was chosen by Coleman before she formed the quintet. She viewed it as a vision of what the quintet could mean to African-American and other underrepresented communities. Coleman wanted to form a chamber group to highlight the work of underrepresented composers and performers. Therefore, the group's initial members were all of African American and Latino ancestry. The group first included Valerie Coleman on flute, Toyin Spellman-Diaz on oboe, Monica Ellis on bassoon, Mariam Adam on clarinet, and Jeff Scott on french horn. In 2016 Mark Dover replaced Mariam Adam, in 2018 Brandon Patrick George replaced Valerie Coleman, in 2021, Kevin Newton replaced Jeff Scott, and in 2025, Mekhi Gladden replaced Toyin Spellman-Diaz.

The group has released nine CDs. Their first CD on a major label, The Classical Underground (Koch Entertainment), was released in January 2005 and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2006. Their 2023 album Passion for Bach and Coltrane, a multimedia collaboration with poet A. B. Spellman, won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Classical Compendium.

In 2001 they won the Richard S. Weinert Award for Innovation in Classical Music from the Concert Artists Guild. In 2002, they won the CMA/ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming and the CMA/WQXR Recording Award for their first album Umoja.

In 2006 & 2009, they performed with the Naumburg Orchestral Concerts, in the Naumburg Bandshell, Central Park, in the summer series.

In 2007, they won the ASCAP Concert Music Award.

Imani Winds have toured throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe, and participated in Chamber Music Society Two, a professional residency program of The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. In addition, Imani has toured internationally and recorded with saxophonist Steve Coleman, performed with pop recording artists Morley, and opened for Cassandra Wilson and Wynton Marsalis. They have performed with several notable jazz musicians such as Wayne Shorter, Steve Coleman, Paquito D'Rivera, and Steffon Harris. They have appeared on radio programs including Saint Paul Sunday, Performance Today, Performance Today, News & Notes, The Bob Edwards Show, and The World.

Legacy Commissioning Project

Imani Winds began the Legacy Commissioning Project in 2008 with the intention of commissioning and premiering ten new works for wind quintet by composers of color and diverse backgrounds over a five-year period. The group has continued to commission and premiered more works after the initial five-year time frame, and the group has continued their original intent to introduce more diverse composers to the standard wind quintet repertoire.

Commissions

Discography

Source:

With Steve Coleman

• 1999 – The Ascension to Light

With Brubeck Brothers Quartet

• 2008 – Classified

With Chick Corea

• 2012 - The Continents: Concerto for Jazz Quintet & Chamber Orchestra

With Wayne Shorter

• 2013 – Without a Net

With Mohammed Fairouz

• 2013 – Native Informant

With Edward Simon

• 2018 – Sorrows & Triumphs

References

References

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2. DeLorenzo, LC. (19 June 2012). "Missing Faces from the Orchestra: An Issue of Social Justice?". Music Educators Journal.
3. Schweitzer, Vivien. (2008-11-14). "Sound of Woodwinds, Calling for Change". The New York Times.
4. (2005-12-08). "Complete List Of 2006 Grammy Nominees".
5. (2019-05-16). "Imani Winds Receives CAG's Inaugural Innovation Award".
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7. "Notable Events and Performers".
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11. "Saint Paul Sunday: Imani Winds plays Haas, del Aguila".
12. (2016-05-26). "Jeremy Denk and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra".
13. (2006-05-23). "Classical Chamber Music Ensemble Imani Winds". NPR.
14. "Forthcoming on The Bob Edwards Show — Bob Edwards Radio".
15. Brook, Peter. (Spring 2011). "Terra Incognita Imani Winds". The Flutist Quarterly.
16. (27 April 2010). "Fred Ho".
17. Oterion, Frank J.. (2010-09-01). "Imani Winds: Terra Incognita".
18. "PSNY: Alvin Singleton - Through It All".
19. "Imani Winds and Jason Moran: Minimally Inspired, Major Imprint".
20. "Imani Winds and Stefon Harris to perform jazz concert Sept. 30 {{!}} Penn State University".
21. "Five musicians test endurance and flexiblity with classic Rite of Spring".
22. "20171201-Imani Winds".
23. (2018-04-13). "Imani Winds breaks the mold of the classical music ensemble in multiple ways".
24. (2013-10-11). "The Imani Winds Bring Improvisation to Classical Chamber Music Performance".
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26. Greene, Teri. "A world premiere, commemorating history".
27. "Imani Winds final week as Ensemble-in-Residence culminates with two public performances {{!}} Music Department".
28. (2019-04-19). "Passion for Bach and Coltrane".
29. Harris, Dalanie. (2021-01-25). ""We Cannot Continue This Way:" Imani Winds' BRUITS Calls for Change".
30. "Imani Winds Breathes Vitality to the Legacy of Gwendolyn Brooks".
31. Holmes, Anne. (2019-05-30). "Hear it at the Library: The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Performs a New Work Inspired by Maya Angelou's "Phenomenal Woman" {{!}} From the Catbird Seat: Poetry & Literature at the Library of Congress".
32. "Imani Winds: At the Cutting Edge {{!}} UChicago Arts {{!}} The University of Chicago".
33. Rucker, Patrick. "Review {{!}} Imani Winds quintet warms up a frigid evening". Washington Post.
34. "Imani Winds {{!}} UChicago Arts {{!}} The University of Chicago".
35. Winslow, Jeff. (2018-08-07). "Chamber Music Northwest review: middle-age crazy".
36. Dobrin, Peter. (16 February 2019). "Winsome Imani Winds gives world premiere of Four Sketches by Penn professor James Primosch".
37. "Imani Winds Catalyst Quartet {{!}} Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State".
38. "Ledah Finck".
39. (21 March 2021). "Imani Winds with a new commissioned work by Nathalie Joachim".
40. "Richard Wernick {{!}} Quintet For Winds (2006).".
41. "Theodore Front Musical Literature - Shout Chorus : For Woodwind Quintet (2006).".
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43. "The Continents: Concerto for Jazz Quintet & Chamber Orchestra - Chick Corea {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic".
44. "FAIROUZ, M.: Native Informant / Tahwidah / Chorale Fantasy / Posh / For Victims / Jebel Lebnan (Hughes, Kravitz, Barton Pine, Krakauer, Thompson) - 8.559744".
45. "Sorrows & Triumphs, by Edward Simon".