It's a late-January release in prospect for The Seventh Hand coming up from Immanuel Wilkins, one of the hottest alto saxophone new talents to have emerged on the progressive acoustic post-bop scene in simply years. The bustling nigh-on 7-and-a-half-minutes pretty uptempo, as it turns out, piece 'Emanation' introduces the new album, and quite an introduction it proves: pressure cooker saxology from Wilkins followed by a sonorous piano solo delivered by Micah Thomas before Wilkins eventually returns in a more serene vein. The Kenny Garrett-inspired Philadelphian features a seven-movement suite of his own originals on the album which is to be issued by Blue Note. The Omega band of the aforementioned Thomas, bassist Daryl Johns and drummer Kweku Sumbry join him once again along with guests, the much talked-about flautist Elena Pinderhughes and the Farafina Kan percussion ensemble. Biblically-inspired in its titling the number seven represents divine intervention. Wilkins quoted by Blue Note says: “The goal of what we’re all trying to get to is nothingness, where the music can flow freely through us.” Immanuel Wilkins photo: Rog Walker. Read a marlbank interview with Wilkins circa Omega, here. Touring plans include Ronnie Scott's on 14 March sandwiched between dates in Italy and France