Ian has performed and/or recorded worldwide with esteemed musicians and groups such as Postmodern Jukebox, Bill Watrous, Conrad Herwig, Joey Defrancesco, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Arturo Sandoval, John Daversa, Bob Sheppard, Gary Foster, and Gene Cipriano. He is a member of the electro/acoustic jazz fusion group Tritone Asylum, and the Rocky Mountain Jazz Collective in Billings, Montana. Ian also regularly performs at the renowned Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles.
As an educator, Ian serves as adjunct faculty for Saxophone and Jazz Improvisation at the Masters University, and also at College of the Canyons (COC) in Santa Clarita, CA. He has taught as a guest lecturer at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). He runs a private studio where he mentors some of the area’s most promising young jazz saxophonists and conducts improvisation workshops at several Los Angeles high schools. Ian’s teaching philosophy, honed over 20 years, spans from elementary school through college and adult learners.
His students have received substantial scholarship offers from prestigious institutions including Berklee College of Music (full tuition), USC (full tuition, majority tuition), UCLA (partial), CSUN (partial), and CalArts (majority tuition). Ian has also showcased his talents at notable events such as Paris by Night, the Java Jazz Festival, the Rochester Jazz Festival, and the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Show. His discography includes standout records like The Steve Spiegel Big Band’s “The LA Sessions” at Capitol Studios, Tritone Asylum’s “Hideaway Sessions,” and Eddie Mitchell Big Band productions.
Ian holds an MFA in Jazz Reeds from the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) and a BA in Music from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). During his formative years, he had the privilege of studying under Kenny Burrell, Charlie Haden, Jeff Clayton, Joe LaBarbara, and Larry Koonse, among others. Ian resides in Santa Clarita, CA, with his family and beloved dogs.
