*The Evan Rhoda Collective ft. Taiki Tsuyama, Brad Allen Williams, Melly, David Cultura* **Taiki Tsuyama** **Brad Allen Williams** Although known for his surrealistic guitar stylism, Brad Allen Williams describes himself as a “professional listener.” Improvisation is a core musical value that animates collaborations and solo projects alike—it informs the openness, curiosity, presence, and relentless thirst for context that are his hallmarks (whether or not an instrument is in his hands, and whether or not the music centers the extemporaneous in any literal fashion). In his work with artists like Brittany Howard, Bilal, Nate Smith and others, Williams grounds outwardly-bold aesthetic choices in encyclopedic knowledge. On his solo albums œconomy and light rivers, he casts himself in productive opposition to his instrument, which he describes as “overleveraged in the last 100 years of popular music.” The mission is at once modest and extremely ambitious: he aspires to reimagine the guitar’s role and function on an atomic level, all while keeping service of music at the center. **Melly** Melly is a Los Angeles–based guitarist and producer originally from St. Louis, known for his deep approach to tone, timbre, and groove. His sound draws from funk, R&B, and gospel, blending classic musicianship with a contemporary production sensibility. As co-leader of Smitten, Melly has developed a distinct voice as both a player and producer, working with emerging artists and now sharing the stage with some of the industry’s most respected legends. **David Cultura** David Cultura is a Panamanian saxophonist, multi-instrumentalist, and artist making his mark on the Los Angeles scene with his genre-blending original music. Known for his distinctive sound and melodic voice on the saxophone, he moves comfortably across jazz, soul, R&B, funk, and Latin music. His versatility has led him to perform internationally with artists including Cazzu, Tonina, and the Allman Betts Family Revival. **Evan Rhoda** Evan Rhoda is a St. Louis based drummer known for his collaborations with musicians from all around the world. He grew up playing music across many genres, from jazz to gospel to metal, and is currently studying jazz performance and world music in school. Evan recently released his debut single as a part of his solo project - a version of “Everybody Wants to Rule the World in 7/8” featuring jazz pianist Adam Maness. Presented by Gold-Diggers. This is an 21+ event