Sax player Ian Buss grew up in San Diego before relocating to New York and exploring many different styles of music, including jazz, classical, afro-cuban, bossa nova, rock, and pop. While living out east, he studied at New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music, later graduating. He also performed at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Joe's Pub, and Brooklyn Bowl, as well as events like an international United Nations conference, wedding parties, and corporate functions.
Buss was in his mid-twenties when he moved from New York back to San Diego in early 2018 and began serving on the faculty of the Young Lions Jazz Conservatory and the UCSD Jazz Camp, as well as performing with local such as trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos, pianist Danny Green, bassist Mackenzie Leighton, percussionist Julien Cantelm. and guitarist/singer Fuzzy Rankin.