Born in Chicago, Oliver Talukder is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, and teaching artist of Mexican and Bengali heritage and winner of Cedille’s 2025 Emerging Artist Competition. Joined by pianist Moriah Trenk, Talukder’s solo debut album on Cedille Records celebrates family, identity, home, and the many musical traditions that have shaped his life. “My home was filled with the aroma of my father’s biryani, the sounds of boleros, salsa, and Bollywood film soundtracks, and conversations among my family in English, Spanish, and Bengali. My neighborhood reflected that same richness,” Talukder recounts. “Long before I understood it, my ears were being trained by different languages, rhythms, and musical traditions.” Performing on oboe, English horn, flute, and piccolo, Talukder showcases his remarkable versatility in works by Jeffrey Agrell, Marina Dranishnikova, Alyssa Morris, Florence Price, Reena Esmail, and Arturo Márquez.