Ian was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, and now based in New Orleans, LA. Ian
attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, graduating in 2018 with a B.A. in Performance. While at Berklee, Ian studied in Ghana for two summers under world renowned musicians Bernard Woma, Jerome Balsab, and Mohammad Alidu.
Since 2019, Ian has been the full-time drummer for two-time Grammy Award Winner Terrance Simien and the Zydeco Experience, with whom he tours and records with. In collaboration with New Orleans Trombone player Revon Andrews, Ian founded Funk Griot, a collective of young New Orleans musicians who fuse brass band, funk, hip hop, and rock. Funk Griot plays clubs throughout New Orleans, released their first single Funk Fa Life , and are working on a full length album. They have performed on Good Morning Louisiana and appeared on WWOZ in New Orleans. Ian has had the honor of playing with some of New Orleans’ most esteemed musicians, including Ellis Marsalis, Ivan Neville, Irma Thomas, and Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Ian has had the pleasure of collaborating and recording with several upcoming artists throughout New Orleans. He also teaches privately through his Tunelark studio and at theLouisiana Academy for the Performing Arts.When not recording, performing, touring, composing, or teaching, Ian is at home in New Orleans hanging out with his partner and his pet cat and dog. Ian plays Dungeons and Dragons, is a voracious reader, creates conlangs, and loves sports. He is a lifelong
