For Immediate Release - January 30, 2023
Ilios Steryannis & The Babylonia Ensemble To Preform @ Silence Sounds, Guelph on Friday February 10th
Ilios is no stranger to Silence Sounds, having performed there with his band on July 7, 2018. He was scheduled to return on Friday March 13th, 2020, but that show was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. So it has been kind of a long road, but we are happy to finally announce Ilios’ return to Silence on Friday February 10th!
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.
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.”
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, cello, piano, 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. The Babylonia Ensemble features Paul Pacanowski on woodwinds, Tania Gill on piano, George Crotty on cello, Henry Heillig on bass and Ilios on drums.
More information can be found at
http://www.iliosjazz.ca
Silence Presents The Babylonia Ensemble,
Friday February 10th, 8pm
