Wilting is a set of pieces composed by Alfredo Colón, as part of his 2023-24 Roulette Residency, for his new quintet. This collection of songs explores themes of change, beauty and death.

Alfredo Colón woodwinds
Ryan Easter trumpet
Kengchakaj Kengkarnka piano
Harish Raghavan bass
Kobi Abcede drums

A livestream will be available free of charge at 8pm on the day of the performance and archived for future viewing. Watch below or on YouTube.

Dominican-American saxophonist and composer Alfredo Colón is a proud New York City native. His playing has been described as authoritative and fiery yet mournful and melodic. Drawing on his interest in Dominican folklore and the works of visionary saxophonists Albert Ayler and Ornette Coleman, Colón creates a musical atmosphere that highlights beauty by framing it in disarray.

Alfredo Colón has collaborated with artists such as Amirtha Kidambi, Moses Sumney, Jamaaladeen Tacuma and Henry Threadgill. He has presented works at spaces such as NYC Winter Jazz Fest, The Jazz Gallery, Bronx Arts Space, and Roulette Intermedium. In 2020, Colon was awarded the Jazz Coalition Commission Fund Grant and he was awarded Roulette Intermedium’s Van Lier Fellowship in 2022. Colon has been commissioned by the Association of Dominican Classical Artists in 2016 and Metropolis Ensemble in 2023. He is projected to release his debut album in 2024.

Kengchakaj Kengkarnka is a Bangkok-born, Brooklyn-based award-winning improviser and composer. His musical idiom is rooted in the aesthetics of Southeast Asia culture and African-American Creative Music; both are improvisational sound-based practices.Kengchakaj researched the contradiction and alteration of sound identities, thoughts, experiences, and feelings he calls Lak-Lan(ลักลั่น). By juxtaposing different materials and concepts such as Thai tuning, the Blues, layered rhythms, electronics, soundscapes, textures, and emotions, Kengchakaj composes and improvises sounds that unify seemingly opposite ideas and make room for new directions.

For more than a decade, bassist-composer Harish Raghavan has helped lay the foundation for a thriving generation of artists. The Thelonious Monk Competition semi finalist garners acclaim as a sound architect for myriad original projects, from Ambrose Akinmusire’s to Eric Harland’s. Other longtime collaborators include Logan Richardson, Vijay Iyer, Gerald Clayton, Taylor Eigsti and Walter Smith III. Born in Chicago, the New York-based artist transitioned from Mridanga to bass at age 16. His appetite for mingling lineages has allowed him to craft an inclusive, deeply personal artistry.

Drummer and producer Kobi “Trenchfoot” Abcede, a.k.a !KOBI, brings propulsive rhythmic prowess and a jazz-tinged harmonic palette to any musical context from LA to New York. Having honed his skills as a first-call drummer and a member of the creative music collective Honeytrap, !KOBI became an in-demand collaborator for artists across the five boroughs, including Queens-based soul singer Duendita, Madison Mcferrin and Linda Diaz. Based in NYC currently, !KOBI has caught the attention of the city’s music scene with his ability to not only improvised music relentlessly but also lay down grooves that upturn the nostrils of the most seasoned hip-hop audiences.

Ryan Easter decided to leave Richmond, VA to find his footing as a trumpet player after seeing Christian Scott wearing a pair of Jordans on an album cover. Keen on remaining studious, while embracing the dynamic ranges of influences throughout Black culture, he’s performed alongside Jennifer Holiday, Talib Kweli, Giorgi Mikadze, EPMD, Donald Harrison, and many more. Now residing in Brooklyn, Easter continues his fascination with decrypting style, substance, and the occasional omakase.