[4] The range is broad, with a strong focus on new jazz and contemporary music works, improvised collaborations, and one-time special events.

"[5] While the organization stayed in place for a few more years, by 2003, changes in NYC loft law compelled Roulette to seek out new performance venue options.

[10] The space in Downtown Brooklyn is part of the historic YWCA that was built in 1928 and designed by Frederick Lee Ackerman and Alexander B. Trowbridge.

The building was designed as a multi-use facility, and originally included 214 units of low-income housing for women, a theater, a pool, health, and community services.

A CVF grant in 2009 funded a conditions report by the firm of Cutsogeorge Tooman & Allen Architects (CTA) on water penetration at the top level of the property.

[14] A review of the new venue in The New York Times said, "the new space has a cool allure, with Art Deco details refurbished in elegant gray and silver, and balconies that surround the spacious floor seating on three sides.

[17] It features network broadcast and online videos that capture the creative process of live performance with interviews with the artists, giving people worldwide the opportunity to experience Roulette's programs, both as an audience member and behind-the-scenes.

These programs include luminaries of the avant-garde as well as lesser-known and emerging artists such as Frankie Mann, Darius Jones, Mary Halvorson, C. Spencer Yeh, Molly Lieber, and Eleanor Smith.

"Staley was inspired by the collectivist, envelope-pushing spirit of the German avant-garde music scene, which he experienced first-hand while stationed in Berlin from 1971 to 1973.

"[12] While in Berlin, he also met with Slide Hampton, and "got to meet a lot of the composers and artists that were involved in the DAAD (Deutsche Akademischer Austausch Dienst (e.g., the German Academic Exchange Service)).

"[24] Frequent collaborators included John Zorn, Ikue Mori, Zeena Parkins, Elliott Sharp, and Shelley Hirsch; as well as his cohorts Morgan Powell, Michael Kowalski and others from a collective known as the Tone Road Ramblers.