ion Zoo . Carol Sawyer . Lisa Miller . Clyde Reed . Steve Bagnell

With the addition of accomplished pianist Lisa Miller in early 2006, ion Zoo has been performing as a quartet. The group draws inspiration from a wide range of musical ingredients including bebop, noise, baroque aria, contemporary classical and Weimar cabaret to create an aural feast of haunting melodies, lush atmospheric textures and spontaneous compositions. Now ion Zoo is better equipped than ever to cook up its trademark intelligent, compelling improvisations.

Since 2001, ion Zoo has performed regularly at local venues including the Sugar Refinery, 1067 Granville, The Western Front and Rime. They have contributed live music to dance improvisation workshops, played the Havana Theatre as part of Vancouver New Music’s Mixtophonics series, produced live improvised film soundtracks under the auspices of Eye of Newt collective, and appeared at the Vancouver Art Gallery as part of the Western Front’s “Under Exposure” series.

Over the last two years, the group has played several well-received engagements at The Jazz Cellar as part of the New Orchestra Workshop’s “And NOW on Monday night…” series. The quartet’s recording of a February 2006 Cellar performance is currently in production as a forthcoming cd release.