Brendan is an Ottawa born jazz musician and bassist. He has acquired a BM from University of North Texas and a MM from the Eastman School of Music, both in jazz performance with a focus on bass. Along with deep technical studies of jazz, Brendan has also established an expansive foundation of practical knowledge in a multitude of different styles and genres through experiences in many levels of local or metropolitan music environments. He has been on several tours that have spanned across the American Northeast and Midwest, including the Sonic Alchemists, of which he has been a member of since 2023 and is the bassist on their most recent album Dream River released 2025.

Along with a vast accumulation of performance experiences across the North American continent, Brendan has the opportunity to participate in a multitude of esteemed competitions and award ceremonies within the jazz tradition, including two honorable mentions for Outstanding Bassist and Combo Arrangement (National Jazz Collegiate Championship 2026), Outstanding Graduate Combo (Downbeat Student Awards 2023), Outstanding College Big Band (Downbeat Student Awards 2025). Brendan plays and performs with many esteemed artists within the jazz tradition such as John Clayton, Wayne Bergeron, Ed Neumeister, Alex Sipiagin, and Gary Smulyan.

Brendan currently resides in Manhattan, New York.

Sam Chandler is a dynamic and versatile pianist, composer, and educator from Duluth, Minnesota. From a young age, Sam fell in love with playing Classical piano and music’s ability to communicate deep and complex emotions. However, he desired another outlet of musical expression that focused on freedom, spontaneity, and interaction between musicians in a live, galvanizing setting. This led him straight to Jazz. Sam sought as many opportunities as possible to play and study Jazz as he could, all with a fervent desire to learn how the music worked, allowing him to pursue once-in-a-lifetime opportunities across the country.

Sam aims to connect deeply with audiences wherever he finds himself, showing them a perspective on life they may have never considered.

Sam Schaeffer is a jazz drummer, percussionist, educator, and composer hailing from Harrisonburg, Virginia located in the Shenandoah Valley. Currently based in New York’s Hudson Valley, Sam is active as a drummer and percussionist on both the New York and Virginia jazz scenes. An accomplished and varied performer, Sam has worked with such diverse musicians as John Clayton, Brad Leali, Derrick Gardner, America’s Got Talent Winner Sal Valentinetti, Delefayo Marsalis, Kim Nazarian, Mike Gibbs, and many more.