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Born in Toronto, ON, on March 24th, 1972, Ilios Steryannis started drumming at the age of 12. Inspired by the artistry and power 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.
He performed with his first rock band at school dances, then travelled overseas to perform in Denmark and Holland with
the Oakwood Collegiate symphony orchestra. Later, Ilios earned a full scholarship to the Banff Centre for the Arts jazz program at age 18, studying with the great Marvin “Smitty” Smith, drummer for the Tonight Show. This was followed by receiving a partial scholarship to study at Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music, where Ilios’ teachers included jazz legends Joe Hunt and Ian Froman.
Back home in Toronto, Ilios completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons) degree in Jazz Performance at York University, where his instructors included jazz drummer Barry Elmes and multi instrumentalist Don Thompson. It was then time to hit the road, as Ilios joined jazz guitarist (and fellow Banff and York alumnus) Tim Posgate, touring Canada three times between 1995-97, and recording the critically acclaimed album “Mit”, which featured saxophone great Jane Bunnett. Ilios then turned his attention to composing and performing with his own band, with a large repertoire of original eclectic jazz tunes they showcased at Toronto venues such as the Rex Jazz Bar and were featured in the Toronto Downtown Jazz Festival.
In 2000, highly respected Toronto session drummer and educator Rich Greenspoon recommended Ilios to join the faculty of
the Arcadia Academy of Music, in Woodbridge, ON. This was the start of Ilios’ career as a well loved and respected drumset educator. Following his stint at Arcadia, Ilios joined the faculty at Brampton’s Drummer’s Choice, where he remained for three
years. Ilios then joined the Parks and Recreation department of the City of Toronto in from 2006-2017. He also taught at Musica Music School. Ilios currently maintains a steady roster of private students at his own Toronto Drum School.
Ilios’ performing career has also flourished, averaging between 75-100 shows per year as a freelance artist. In 2017, Ilios performed with African jazz artist Waleed Abdulhamid, jazz bassist and vocalist Michael Lalonde and world/fusion band ZimZum, among many others.
Ilios has recorded a full album of his own compositions with some of Canada's top jazz musicians. "Bethany Project" was released at the Burdock on January 11th, 2018. The album has received four star reviews from All About Jazz and Danish jazz critic Ivan Rod, and is now available on iTunes, Amazon, Apple Music and Spotify.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPfn1fVcvvY
ILIOS STERYANNIS – RECORDING ARTIST_____
Ilios Steryannis is a highly respected session drummer in the Toronto music scene.
Ilios has been recording since 1994, and is featured on the following CD's:
Shadow Puppets – 1994
Aaron Keele, Present Idiolect – 1995
Tim Posgate , MIT – 1996
Elle, Nympholepsy – 1997
Nat Roman, Push – 2000
Michelle Rasky, Your Love’s Like
Spring – 2003 (CBC Galaxie Rising Star award
winner!)
Aengus Finnan, North Wind - 2003
Harkness, Ciao To The Beauty – 2004
Matzo Ball Gumbo, Peyes Up Front – 2006
The Yiddishe Swingtet, Shul Days – 2007
Keef, Stoned To Doom – 2010
Valley of Dreams, before the echo – 2011 (download only)
Randall Johnson Chung - Isle of Jazz - 2013
Ilios Steryannis Quartet - Demo EP - 2015
Ilios Steryannis - Bethany Project - 2018
Ilios’ drumming was mentioned prominently in the following online reviews:
“Frankly, I’d feel different if the Kendrick/Steryannis rhythm couldn’t handle the
Sabbathian swing, but they do that just fine. Too many bands do the Sabbath
thing and can’t pull off the swing.”
Chris Barnes, Hellride Music website
“A large part of their musical success lies in the fantastic interplay between the solid as granite rhythm section of John Kendrick and Ilios Steryannis at times they are all experimental and space rock infused jam and then they break through with a Symptom of the Universe-esque powerful driving rockathon.”
Mark Hunt-Bryden, Sleeping Shaman website
“The bass/drum duo of John Kendrick and Ilios Steryannis are solid with the drums especially being very vigorous at times.”
Doomantia.com
“Drummer Ilios Steryannis’ stylings deserve a big shout-out, as
they truly solidify before the echo within the alternative rock
framework.”
Robin Hatch, The Torontoist
Please contact us to have Ilios create his own brand of drumming magic on your recording project!
Ilios Steryannis is a highly respected session drummer in the Toronto music scene.
Ilios has been recording since 1994, and is featured on the following CD's:
Shadow Puppets – 1994
Aaron Keele, Present Idiolect – 1995
Tim Posgate , MIT – 1996
Elle, Nympholepsy – 1997
Nat Roman, Push – 2000
Michelle Rasky, Your Love’s Like
Spring – 2003 (CBC Galaxie Rising Star award
winner!)
Aengus Finnan, North Wind - 2003
Harkness, Ciao To The Beauty – 2004
Matzo Ball Gumbo, Peyes Up Front – 2006
The Yiddishe Swingtet, Shul Days – 2007
Keef, Stoned To Doom – 2010
Valley of Dreams, before the echo – 2011 (download only)
Randall Johnson Chung - Isle of Jazz - 2013
Ilios Steryannis Quartet - Demo EP - 2015
Ilios Steryannis - Bethany Project - 2018
Ilios’ drumming was mentioned prominently in the following online reviews:
“Frankly, I’d feel different if the Kendrick/Steryannis rhythm couldn’t handle the
Sabbathian swing, but they do that just fine. Too many bands do the Sabbath
thing and can’t pull off the swing.”
Chris Barnes, Hellride Music website
“A large part of their musical success lies in the fantastic interplay between the solid as granite rhythm section of John Kendrick and Ilios Steryannis at times they are all experimental and space rock infused jam and then they break through with a Symptom of the Universe-esque powerful driving rockathon.”
Mark Hunt-Bryden, Sleeping Shaman website
“The bass/drum duo of John Kendrick and Ilios Steryannis are solid with the drums especially being very vigorous at times.”
Doomantia.com
“Drummer Ilios Steryannis’ stylings deserve a big shout-out, as
they truly solidify before the echo within the alternative rock
framework.”
Robin Hatch, The Torontoist
Please contact us to have Ilios create his own brand of drumming magic on your recording project!
