I'm a composer/keyboardist from Beaver Falls, PA, which is about 40 miles north of Pittsburgh. Recently I received a B.M. in Music Technology/Electronic Composition and jazz piano from Duquesne University. During my time at Duquesne I studied jazz composition and arranging with Mike Tomaro and electronic composition with Lynn Purse and Dr. Patrick Burke. At Duquesne I was also fortunate enough to have three big band arrangements performed and recorded by the DU Jazz Ensemble, as well as other chamber works and electronic compositions. I've worked on arranging projects for Alanna Records and I'm currently working on string quartet arrangements of Christmas carols. As a keyboardist, I occasionally play piano for events in the Pittsburgh area, including weddings, receptions, concerts, and church services. I'm also a freelance session musician, and have recorded piano and keyboards for guitarists/producers Bill Purse and Tom Kikta in a wide variety of styles and instrumentations. I had the privilege of recording my original composition "David and Goliath" for Mr. Purse's album, In the Loop.

I'm also an alumnus of Kappa Kappa Psi, a national honorary band fraternity. In our chapter at Duquesne, I served as Vice President of Special Projects, which involved planning and executing all of the service projects. Our responsibilities included assisting the A/V Department with setting up and tearing down the stage for wind symphony and symphony band concerts, setting up chairs and music stands for rehearsals, preparing an ensemble to perform once per semester in local venues, and participation in river and park cleanups and Relay for Life.

"To be the salt of the earth; to be a town built on a hill; to be the light of the world; and to glorify the Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)

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

Im what would happen if Khaleesi let Danny Brown hit. 
Hip-Hop. Light to Dark. Intellect to Ignorant. Boom Bap to Jazz to Trap. Music. King of Geeds.
Contact and Bookings: hiiisamurai@gmail.com

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