Imani Winds is a Grammy Award-winning American wind quintet based in New York City, United States. The group was founded by flutist Valerie Coleman in 1997 and is known for its adventurous and diverse programming, which includes both established and newly composed works. The word Imani means "faith" in Swahili. They are also active commissioners of new music with the intent of introducing more diverse composers to the wind quintet repertoire.
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 ComposerTitle(s)For LCPNotesFred HoJosephine Baker's Angels from the RainbowYesPaquito D'RiveraKitesYesWayne ShorterTerra IncognitaYesAlvin SingletonThrough it AllYesRoberto SierraConcierto de CamaraYesJason MoranCane Jump Cut RoseYesDaniel Bernard RoumainFive Chairs and One TableYesStefon HarrisAnatomy of a Box (A Sonic Painting in Wood, Metal, and Wind)YesJonathan RussellArrangement of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring Arrangement of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade
Arrangement of Holst's The PlanetsYesSimon ShaheenZafirYesDanilo PerezTravesias PanamenasYesMuhammed FairouzJebel Lebnan Deep RiversYesVijay IyerBruitsYesJeff ScottPassion for Bach & Coltrane YesFrederic RzewskiSometimesYesReena EsmailThe Light is the SameYesCourtney BryanBloomingYesValerie ColemanBronzeville Phenomenal Woman, Concerto for Wind QuintetYesAaron HelgesonCalls of close and awayYesHenry Threadgill2.6 PentadactylYesAlison Yun-Fei JiangOn Light and BirdsYesTed Moorefeedback vii: speak, containYesKevin KayQuiverYesMaria KaoutzaniSpeak, MindYesJ. P. Redmond9X9: Nine Pieces for NonetYesJames PrimoschFour SketchesYesJessie MontgomerySargeant McCauleyYesLedah FinckFractured FossilYesNathalie JoachimSeenYesRichard WernickQuintet for WindsNoPremiered but did not commissionKenji BunchShout ChorusNoPremiered but did not commission
Discography
Source:
YearTitleLabel2002UmojaImani Winds2005The Classical UndergroundKoch International Classics / Koch2006The Imani WindsKoch International Classics / Koch / Koch International2007Josephine Baker: A Life of le Jazz Hot!eOne / Koch / Koch International Classics2008This ChristmasKoch / Koch International / Koch International Classics2010Terra IncongnitaE1 Entertainment2013Stravinsky: The Rite of SpringEMI Classics2016Startin' Sumthin'eOne2021BruitsBright Shiny Things2023Passion for Bach and ColtraneImani Winds Media Production 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
External links Imani Winds official site Imani Winds page at Jay K. Hoffman & Associates, Inc. site
Listening Imani Winds on All Things Considered radio program, June 8, 2005 Imani Winds on Performance Today radio program, February 22, 2006 Imani Winds on News & Notes radio program, May 23, 2006 Imani Winds on All Things Considered radio program, June 11, 2007
Video Imani Winds video