Kengchakaj Kengkarkna | Piano
A New York-based award-winning jazz pianist/composer/educator, Kengchakaj Kengkarnka is undoubtedly a handful jazz pianist from Bangkok, Thailand who has been recognized on the international jazz scene level including New York jazz scene. Kengchakaj’s unique approach of music, combining influences from different cultures, including Thai culture, Thai music, various musical styles and genres, lead him to be an artist who is “taking a prominent part on a new generation of artist”(Rogerio Boccato’s word, A well known Brazilian percussionist, and educator based in New York City.)
Kengchakaj has won numerous international acclaimed awards including Best Soloist from Thailand International Jazz Conference Solo Competition(TIJC) in 2013, and First Prize awards both in the Ensemble(2013) and Individual Performance(2011) categories from Thailand Jazz Competition(TJC).
In 2015, with funding from Fulbright scholarship, Kengchakaj earned a Master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music. He studied privately with Ted Rosenthal and Phil Markowitz as well as renowned faculty at MSM, such as Garry Dial, Rogerio Boccato, Scott Wendholt, Jeremy Manasia, Gretchen Parlato, Theo Bleckman, Kate McGarry, Todd Reynold and many more. Moreover, Kengchakaj has also received a 4 years-full scholarship during his undergraduate at Rangsit University’s Conservatory of Music where he studied under Dr. Denny Euprasert, a Silpathorn award recipient.(an award for living Thai contemporary artists presented annually by the Office of Contemporary Art and Culture, Ministry of Cultureof Thailand.)
In 2011, Kengchakaj started his distinguished career after he has won Thailand Jazz Competition(TJC), Thailand's most prestigious jazz competition since 2005. Despite jazz education is fairly novel in Thailand, Thailand Jazz Competition have been producing emerging artist from Thailand. Since then, Kengchakaj starts playing around Bangkok city at notable jazz venue such as world-famous Sirocco Sky Bar at Lebua Hotel(2011-2013) with P.Mauriat saxophone endorser Mint Passakorn, legendary Brown Sugar: The Jazz Boutique(2012-present), world-famous Saxophone Pub(2013-present), world-renowned UNESCO International Jazz Day organizer Sweets(2012-present), Niu’s Restaurant(2012-2013), Black: the Jazz Spot(2013-present), Jazz Happen(2014-present), Smile: Jazz & Bistro(2013-2015), and the list goes on.
Besides his appearances as a featured artist at various notable jazz club, Kengchakaj has aprivilege to performs at many countless jazz and music festival including Cotai Jazz and Blues Festival(Macau, China), Malaysia International Performing Arts Village(Kuala lumpur, Malaysia), Hauhin Jazz Festival(Huahin, Thailand), Samui Latin and Jazz Music Night Out(Samui, Thailand), Samui International Jazz MusicFestival(Samui, Thailand), Thailand International Jazz Conference(Bangkok,Thailand), Winter Jazz and Art Festival(Bangkok, Thailand), River Jazz Festival(Bangkok, Thailand), Big Mountain Music Festival(Khoayai, Thailand), Pattaya Music Festival(Pattaya, Thailand), Chang Carnival(various places, Thailand) as well as memorable concert, for instance, Sound of the King(2016) at the Berklee Performance Center, Giving and Sharing the Moment: Peace & Dream(2013) with RSUSymphony Orchestra conducted by Silpathorn award recipient, Vanich Potavanich, NJ together(2014) with “New & Jiew” Thailand’s superstar duo group at GMM Grammy Live House, The Cover Night Pluswith “New & Jiew”(2014) at King Power, Jud Prakrai Concert Series #52 with nationally acclaimed legendary artist “Pun Paiboonkiat”, “May I Jazz?” at National Cultural Center(2013), Movie on the Beach with “New & Jiew”(2015) and many more.
In 2015, Kengchakaj was selected as a featured artist to celebrate the global event UNESCO International Jazz Day on April 30th, 2015 at Bad Motel. This global phenomenon is organized by UNESCO and a well-accomplish jazz community and organizer called Sweets, aka Sweets Records run by Virun Lertpanyawai, Thailand’s leading jazz promoter. Kengchakaj is a regularly featured artist for Sweets concert series since 2012. He has performed more than 20 concerts organized by Sweets.
Kengchakaj moved to New York City in August 2015 to pursue a master degree in jazz art performance at the Manhattan School of Music. As a recipient of Performing Artist in Resident Scholarship, Kengchakaj start hosting a jazz jam session at The International House NYC aka IH JazzNight(2015-2017). Kengchakaj also featured at The International House 2017 Awards Gala Honoring Washington Z. Sycip, The founder of The SGV group. In addition, Kengchakaj performed regularly at the various events throughout the years while he was a resident at International House NYC including “I-House Now and Then concert series”, “All Nation”, “Fall Fiesta”, “International: The Musical”, etc. On top of that, Kengchakaj also an active member of the New York jazz scene. He performs regularly with an MSM vocal ensemble “Vinyl Live” at the legendary 55Bar.
On October 13, 2016, The King of Thailand, His Majesty The King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who was born at Mount Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has passed away. In remembrance of His Majesty, who was also an excellence jazz musician and composer, Thai community in Massachusetts organize a 1000-seat sold-out show, Sound of The King concert at world-famous Berklee Performance Center on December 4th, 2016 to honor the king excellency and extraordinary composition. In the concert, Kengchakaj is featured as a pianist and arranger. The band consists of Thai and local musician from Boston and New York area. His arrangement of ‘Echo’ was the highlight performance of the night sung by Natasha Patamapongs, founder of The Mellow Motif, a renowned Brazilian jazz band from Thailand. In addition, Kengchakaj original arrangement of ‘Echo’ is a collaboration project between Kengchakaj and Natasha creating a Music Video Homage to His Majesty on an online platform which the video got national attention and earn us to create more tribute video which also got national attention on the online platform.
As an artist from Thailand who based in New York City, “Thai Artist in New York” as known as
“TANY” has featured Kengchakaj as a highlight performance in the event they organize. The distinguished event which Kengchakaj is a featured artist such as Springboard, Art Walk First Time(April 16th, 2016), What is the Point, Art and Culture7 event(April 29th, 2017), Opening Reception: HM King Bhumibol, An Ode(December 5th, 2017) with internationally acclaimed artist Sirintip Phasuk. TANY is a non-profit organization collective with roots in New York's D.I.Y. culture dedicated to build a platform for diversity in Thai arts culture at every level from artists to audiences, connecting the independent Thai artists with the broader New York art community, identifying exciting new voices in Thai artists from around the world and providing them exposure to new audiences.
In 2014, Siam Jazz Orchestra is founded by a group of Thai lead jazz musician. Kengchakaj is also featured as an original member on the piano as well as a composer in residence.
In 2017, Kengchakaj has the honor to be chosen as a featured artist for Treasure Thailand Jazz Collective(TTJC) lead by Thai legendary vocalist, Nop Ponchamni. TTJC is comprised of top jazz musician from Thailand including Kom Wongsawat, Natasha Patamapongs, Julphan Tilapornputt, Ta Woraseth, and Thai legendary bassist, Kor Notapol. In addition to jazz musical accomplish, Kengchakaj is also an exceptional musical theatre composer and musical director as well. His notable work consists with Love Song 2475: The Musical directed by Pradit Prasartthong, a Silpathorn award recipient, Lady of Siam: The Musical, and The International: The Musical, to name a few.
As an educator, Kengchakaj starts to give a talk and workshop throughout Bangkok. His notable workshop and talk including Jazz Talk, Workshop and performance at the Conservatory of Music, Rangsit University(June 19 2017), Independent Voices, Workshop and performance at the Conservatory of Music Rangsit University(January 31 2018), Learn/Talk/Share, Workshop and performance at JazzHappen(February 11 2018).
Born and raised in, one of the most diverse city in the world, Bangkok, Thailand. Kengchakaj is raised in a music-loving family. His father exposes him to a variety of jazz music with his collection of jazz music that he started to collect when he was in New York in the 70s. His mother also an amateur singer who love Sarah Vaughan. With support from his family, Kengchakaj interest in jazz music expands from avery young age. Although, he did not pursue the music career path until his early 20s since at that point this family did not support him to pursue music as a career. Despite all that, after listening to Bill Evans, recommended by one of his professors during his time at the design school, inspire Kengchakaj to decide to pursue a musical career.
Recently, he partnered with Julphan Tilapornputt and founded "Addicted East Tones" in 2017, a weekly series concerts held in Brooklyn area which focuses on exposing emerging artist like himself and his peers to broader audiences.
At the moment, Kengchakaj is working on his New York debut album titled Lak Lan. “Lak-Lan” is aThai word which means paradox. Kengchakaj has been fascinated with the idea of paradoxical of things, especially, from an ontological point of view, a paradox is an imperfection of trying to be perfect. To archive subject matter, is to assemble many juxtaposition ingredients to unify a greater idea. Moreover, Kengchakaj has recorded with many Thai artists. His EP was released in 2017.
