Corey Wilkes

A young lion with a roar being heard in several music genres; Corey Wilkes burst onto the music scene in 2002 and landed in the soul of the Chicago Jazz Club scene. For his next feat he took on the ghost of Lester Bowie and filled the vacant trumpet seat in the the Art Ensemble of Chicago. Big shoes to fill for a new musician but Corey isn't an ordinary musician. He began at the age of 10, made the Illinois All State Honors Jazz Combo in high school and honed his talent at Berklee College of Music.

For his next feat he took on the ghost of Lester Bowie and filled the vacant trumpet seat in the the Art Ensemble of Chicago. Big shoes to fill for a new musician but Corey isn't an ordinary musician. He began at the age of 10, made the Illinois All State Honors Jazz Combo in high school and honed his talent at Berklee College of Music.

His soulful notes can be heard gracing a variety of projects such as DJ sets by Logic, Osunlade and Josh Deep; tracks on Hidden Beach's Unwrapped Vol 4, as well as Kahil El Zabar's Ascension Loft Series.

Corey has shared the stage and knowledge with Wynton Marsalis, Roy Hargrove, Ledisi, Soulive, James Moody, Meshell Ndegeocello, Mike Phillips, Roscoe Mitchell, Von Freeman, Fred Anderson, Will Calhoun, Malcom Jamal-Warner and so many more. In addtion he performs extensively in Europe as well as Africa, Japan and South America.

Holding down posts as an Artist in Residence and Board Member with the Jazz Institute of Chicago and a member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians; this young lion has got a roar to listen for.