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.

Musician turned songwriter, engineer by education with origins in Pittsburgh and formative days in Istanbul.

Eliot Bates has been playing oud since 1992, and a professional performer and recording artist since 1994. They have developed a distinctive approach to synthesis and sound design, especially for dark ambient / contemplative music styles. Recent collaborations include The Manifestoon Platoon (with Arseni Troitski), The Big Bumble Bees (with organist Baby Dee), and Basquerole (with multi-instrumentalist Dan Fries).

Partial Discography (production / composition):
    * 2022 Manifestoon Platoon "Kill MP"
    * 2021 Makamqore "Mono Poly Infinitude"
    * 2021 Manifestoon Platoon "Enumerate, Insectify"
    * 2021 Manifestoon Platoon "Dangle Statement"
    * 2020 Makamqore "Makamqore vol. 1"
    * 2016 Basquerole "Aughts and 40s"
    * 2013 The Big Bumble Bees "The Big Bumble Bees" (Tin Angel)
    * 2013 Kaderci "Mercator's Revenge"
    * 2008 Kaderci "Mapping Cartographic Abstractions"
    * 2002 Basquerole "Morning of Radiance"

Partial Discography (oud, vocals, percussion):
    * 2014 V/A "The Post-Romantic Empire Album" (Our Sweetest Songs)
    * 2011 Current 93 "Honeysuckle Æeons" (Coptic Cat)
    * 2011 Current 93 "Drank Honeysuckle Æeons" (Coptic Cat)
    * 2010 Current 93 "Baalstorm, Sing Omega" (Coptic Cat)
    * 2006 Grup Yorum "Yıldızlar Kuşandık" (Kalan)
    * 2006 Beynelmilel (film, Beşiktas Kültür Merkezi)
    * 2006 Yaşar Kabaosmanoğlu "Rakani" [Metropol]
    * 2004 CAPE Team Industry: "Burn in the Pyres"
    * 2001 3Spell "Music for Ultra Gypsies"

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