George Heid III is a drummer, percussionist, and composer whose diverse musical passions range from jazz and classical to world and electronic genres.

George Heid III grew up in his father’s recording studio and began playing drums and piano at age 3. His earliest lessons took place at home with his father, George Edward Heid—a great musician and true champion of the music. In this environment, he was always immersed in music and surrounded by powerful musical influences, such as jazz guitarist Jimmy Ponder and his uncle Bill Heid, a world-class pianist and Hammond B3 jazz musician. Those formative years laid the roots of George’s musical journey.

By age 10, George was attending classes at the Afro-American Music Institute, studying with Thomas Wendt and James Johnson III. Later, he graduated from Pittsburgh’s Creative and Performing Arts High School, where he was mentored by jazz drumming legend Roger Humphries. After high school, he attended Pittsburgh’s Duquesne University as well as the State University of New York at Purchase, where he studied with master jazz drummers Kenny Washington, John Riley, and Richie Morales.

George has toured and played at numerous notable jazz venues across the United States and China, including three multi-month residencies in Hangzhou, China. He has recorded with numerous well-known artists, including Bill Heid, Roger Humphries, Dwayne Dolphin, Paul Thompson, Steve Shehan, Jamey Haddad, Joe “Sonny” Barbato, Victor Provost, Warren Wolf, Arsen Petrosyan, Daniel May, Antonio Croes, Ron Blake, Henry "The Skipper" Franklin, Sean Jones, Bob Reynolds, David Budway, Orrin Evans and his Elevations bandmates, Brett Williams, Anton DeFade, Michael Stephenson and Benny Benack III. He’s also performed at numerous festivals, including the Monterey Jazz Festival, Pittsburgh JazzLive International Festival, Tri-C Jazz Fest Cleveland, Washington Jazz Festival, among others.

George is the recipient of numerous awards as both a performer and composer, including the The ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award, Downbeat magazine’s 2013 Best Original Jazz Composition award, and back-to-back Outstanding Soloist awards at the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival awards in 2011 and 2012.

George currently leads groups under his own name and performs with The Precipice Community Band, Arcadia, The Dwayne Dolphin Fo'tet and Paul Thompson's Wayntet.

George also serves on the board of Lighthouse Arts, Inc., a nonprofit founded by his father, George Edward Heid, and Dr. Harry Clark. Lighthouse Arts is a passionate collective dedicated to restoring jazz’s central place in American culture through artist advocacy, education, and high-level performance. With deep respect for the music’s history and a commitment to its future, the organization works to preserve jazz’s legacy, support the artists who carry it forward, and connect communities across generations through dynamic programs, partnerships, and outreach.

on tour! my new record 'It's Ok, B U' is out now 🌹 
👇🏽
https://ffm.bio/kiefer

The Uptown Woods is a hip-hop, jazz infused group that was formed in the fall of 2015. The band consists of two core members who compose and write all original music. The pianist, Garrett Shafer is from New Jersey and composes all of the bands progressions. MC, Supplant, is from Pittsburgh.  The Uptown Woods has connections to Duquesne University, and has built a large following throughout the Pittsburgh area. 
The band’s name was selected because ‘Uptown’ Pittsburgh was the meeting spot for countless jam sessions when the group began in 2015. Contradictory to the city, the ‘Woods’ symbolizes the bands ties to inner harmony. The metropolitan culture mixed with the peace of nature clash against each other and is an oxymoron, a theme that surfaces in the trio’s music quite often. The name, ‘The Uptown Woods’ stands for contrast and balance because there is always a way through the chaos for those who are clever enough to find it. 
	Diverse ideas have always been the foundation for the groups complex sound. The Uptown Woods debut EP called Close Quarters is scheduled to be released in November. One of the many themes for Close Quarters is to surface over a conformist society’s viewpoints in order to establish a self-reliant set of ideals, especially in situations of distress and confinement. The band hopes to spread these beliefs to the public in hope to change an unstable and bitter community.

Bookings: TheUptownWoods@gmail.com

drummer - beatmaker

Buy my music on Bandcamp:
https://seshross.bandcamp.com

For Business: Rossantonich93@yahoo.com

pittsburgh



all inquiries: sierrasellersmusic@gmail.com

alto saxophonist, singer, composer, songwriter

New album Not Everyone Can Go – out now everywhere.

As a composer I write music rooted in folk song and dance. As a pianist for TRIO+ I play jazz informed R&B & hip-hop.

I also write afropop flavored songs here (Kinetic): http://www.soundcloud.com/kineticpittsburgh


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