Ian Narcisi began his music endeavors in 1983 by taking drum lessons from Mark Anderson at Roselle Music in Roselle, Illinois. After seven years of preparation Ian went on to audition at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, Illinois where he resided for three years earning his Associates in music. During his time at the conservatory Ian was trained by the likes of Brad Stirtz (vibraphonist on Janice Borlas Agents of Change, Director of Music at Peace Lutheran Church), Greg Shearer (jazz arranger/guitartist), jazz sextet (voice), arranger, Mark Smith (Double tenor pans..lead soloist for Pan Go Steel Band), for drum set/steel drums, and Hans Wurman (piano/composition), for piano/composition. During this time (1990 thru 1993), Ian performed in clubs in the Chicago Metro Area as a drummer and backup singer for several aspiring local area experimental rock groups such as
Russ James, The College of Complex, Minds Eye, and Population 3 at venues such as Gunther Murphys, Phyllis' Musical Inn, The Beat Kitchen, and Subterranean.
Ian received formal vocal training from Chicago opera singer Janice Pantazelos at the Chicago Studio for Professional Singers in 1998 and went on to sing accapella at various churches and vocal recitals around the area. The lure of rock and roll pulled Ian into his own musical projects. In 2000, Ian continued to play drums and sing back up vocals in various innovative Chicago bands such as The Ghettobillies and Scottish McMillan. He performed throughout the Midwest and in prominent Chicago venues such as Double Door and The House of Blues Chicago (main stage). In the autumn of 2004 Ian joined The Sundogs and enjoyed success with this cover band until they called it quits a couple years later. Always feeling strongly that he had something unique to say with his original songs, Ian decided to focus on recording his own music and in August of 2005 Ian released his first EP "Off Purpose" (piano/vocal version), a collection of original songs composed on piano.
In July of 2006 Ian reunited with friend Scottish McMillan forming the band Tinwhisker. Ian played acoustic drums and sang backup. Tinwhisker played several shows in and around the Chicago area before calling it quits in May of 2007. During this time, Ian recorded his first, three-song EP "Off Purpose" (full band version). Guest musician/friend Scottish McMillan played both guitar and bass on the EP and Ian played drums, keyboards and sang all vocal lines on all his composed songs.
In the summer of 2007 Ian recorded his third EP entitled "Niche In Time" with sound engineer/co-producer Tim Sandusky. Performing on "Niche In Time" are master bassist/guitarist Erik Swanson (fretted 5-string, frettless 4-string, frettled 7-string electric bass on all 4 songs), singer/songwriter/musician David Kav (12-string acoustic guitar, 6-string electric guitar, mandolin, harmonica on "Burning", "Trouble Free" and "RAID 5"), and master finger tappist, guitarist, songwriter Andreas Kapsalis (spanish guitar, classical guitar, bouzouki, "unicorn" guitar) on "Throw It Away". Ian recorded vocals, drums and paino for all 4 songs.
In the winter of 2008 Ian created his first full-length "Weight Of The Words" which merges remastered EP's "Off Purpose" and "Niche In Time" with six brand new original songs on which he performed keyboards, drums, and vocals. Recorded at Studio Ballistico in Chicago, "Weight of the Words" also once again features the brilliant Erik Swanson on bass, and Dave Bowers on guitar.
From January to March, 2009 "Feel No Evil", Ian's five-song EP was recorded and was released in March of 2009.
Ian's latest 3-song EP entitled "Phone Call To Infinity" was released in December of 2010. This EP was recorded over the course of 3 months (1 song per month) which gave Ian more time to concentrate on his music. One of the songs from this EP, "Five Below Nothing", was documented via HD video. Ian plans on releasing an edited version of the documentary in March of 2011.
Ian plans to continue making music from his studio in Evanston, IL with the love and support of his family and friends, and the amazing musicians who have been with him on his journey and helped make his dream a reality.
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