Ilios Steryannis
Email: iliosjazz@gmail.com
Web: www.iliosjazz.ca
ILIOS STERYANNIS BIO 2023
Born in Toronto, ON, on March 24th, 1972, Greek-Jewish Canadian musician Ilios Steryannis started drumming at the age of 12. Inspired by the power and artistry of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, he pounded on a practice pad and an old set of bongo drums until his father lovingly presented him with a brand new Tama Royalstar drumset, with Paiste cymbals, for his 13th birthday. Since then, Ilios and the drums have been inseparable.
Ilios has since toured and recorded with Jane Bunnett, Tim Posgate, Levon Ichkhanian and many more, most recently touring Greece in 2008. Ilios released his first full length CD, Bethany Project in 2018, featuring 11 original jazz compositions.
The June 2018 issue of Modern Drummer magazine said: “…Drummer Ilios Steryannis keeps a firm grip on multiple styles and shows an ear not only for conducting the group’s dynamics from the kit but for pulling choice sounds from the drums.”
Currently Ilios performs regularly with many artists including jazz pianist Steve Koven.
Ilios’ latest project, the Babylonia Ensemble, pays tribute to his Iraqi Jewish and Greek roots with a six part suite of Middle Eastern jazz. The instrumentation is an entrancing mix of clarinet, violin, piano, bansuri flute, tabla, oud, bass and drums. A variety of moods and rhythms are explored, and there is traditional Iraqi Jewish music in the mix as well, composed by the legendary Al-Kuwaity brothers of Baghdad. He recorded the Babylonia Suite album at Canterbury Music Company in June 2023, and the album will be released on November 2nd, 2023.
“Babylonia Suite is an emotionally-rich and finely-calibrated release that straddles multiple genres and brings together a plethora of musical talent and conceptual collaborations. The highly visual and deftly-produced compositions take the listener to far flung corners and evoke sensory bliss that is at times stratospheric and transcendent. A seductive and exceptional release!” Marty Delia, the Jazz Music Blog.
PRESS AND RADIO PLAY:
Ilios Steryannis – Babylonia Suite | Solar Latin Club
ANIMAJAZZ n° 1092 di Venerdi 22 Settembre | animaJazz
https://planetradio.co.uk/jazz-fm/shows/full-circle-with-ruth-fisher/id-213862462/
Lush Life - Episode September 15, 2023 | CJSW
Expansive Prairie Skies - September 13, 2023 – 101.5 UMFM
Great review here!!!! Belleville Intelligencer e-edition (pressreader.com)
From Russia: Ilios Steryannis - Babylonia Suite (jazzquad.ru)
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/babylonia-suite-ilois-steryannis-self-produced
Great review from Australia! Ilios Steryannis second album release Babylonia Suite | The Jazz Music Blog
Great review from Greece! Ilios Steryannis, “Babylonia Suite” (jazzbuzz.gr)
Awesome interview with Joe Dimino of Neon Jazz, Kansas City! A Neon Jazz Interview with Toronto Jazz Drummer & Composer Ilios Steryannis - YouTube
Another great review from Wall of Sound: Two Brand New Local-International Music Releases | Wall of Sound | Audio and Music Reviews
Review from Belgium: Ilios Steryannis – Babylonia Suite | Jazz'halo (jazzhalo.be)
iliosjazz@gmail.com
Email: iliosjazz@gmail.com
Web: www.iliosjazz.ca
ILIOS STERYANNIS BIO 2023
Born in Toronto, ON, on March 24th, 1972, Greek-Jewish Canadian musician Ilios Steryannis started drumming at the age of 12. Inspired by the power and artistry of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, he pounded on a practice pad and an old set of bongo drums until his father lovingly presented him with a brand new Tama Royalstar drumset, with Paiste cymbals, for his 13th birthday. Since then, Ilios and the drums have been inseparable.
Ilios has since toured and recorded with Jane Bunnett, Tim Posgate, Levon Ichkhanian and many more, most recently touring Greece in 2008. Ilios released his first full length CD, Bethany Project in 2018, featuring 11 original jazz compositions.
The June 2018 issue of Modern Drummer magazine said: “…Drummer Ilios Steryannis keeps a firm grip on multiple styles and shows an ear not only for conducting the group’s dynamics from the kit but for pulling choice sounds from the drums.”
Currently Ilios performs regularly with many artists including jazz pianist Steve Koven.
Ilios’ latest project, the Babylonia Ensemble, pays tribute to his Iraqi Jewish and Greek roots with a six part suite of Middle Eastern jazz. The instrumentation is an entrancing mix of clarinet, violin, piano, bansuri flute, tabla, oud, bass and drums. A variety of moods and rhythms are explored, and there is traditional Iraqi Jewish music in the mix as well, composed by the legendary Al-Kuwaity brothers of Baghdad. He recorded the Babylonia Suite album at Canterbury Music Company in June 2023, and the album will be released on November 2nd, 2023.
“Babylonia Suite is an emotionally-rich and finely-calibrated release that straddles multiple genres and brings together a plethora of musical talent and conceptual collaborations. The highly visual and deftly-produced compositions take the listener to far flung corners and evoke sensory bliss that is at times stratospheric and transcendent. A seductive and exceptional release!” Marty Delia, the Jazz Music Blog.
PRESS AND RADIO PLAY:
Ilios Steryannis – Babylonia Suite | Solar Latin Club
ANIMAJAZZ n° 1092 di Venerdi 22 Settembre | animaJazz
https://planetradio.co.uk/jazz-fm/shows/full-circle-with-ruth-fisher/id-213862462/
Lush Life - Episode September 15, 2023 | CJSW
Expansive Prairie Skies - September 13, 2023 – 101.5 UMFM
Great review here!!!! Belleville Intelligencer e-edition (pressreader.com)
From Russia: Ilios Steryannis - Babylonia Suite (jazzquad.ru)
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/babylonia-suite-ilois-steryannis-self-produced
Great review from Australia! Ilios Steryannis second album release Babylonia Suite | The Jazz Music Blog
Great review from Greece! Ilios Steryannis, “Babylonia Suite” (jazzbuzz.gr)
Awesome interview with Joe Dimino of Neon Jazz, Kansas City! A Neon Jazz Interview with Toronto Jazz Drummer & Composer Ilios Steryannis - YouTube
Another great review from Wall of Sound: Two Brand New Local-International Music Releases | Wall of Sound | Audio and Music Reviews
Review from Belgium: Ilios Steryannis – Babylonia Suite | Jazz'halo (jazzhalo.be)
iliosjazz@gmail.com
