When describing E-zel, one must take into account the many iterations and transformations that led up to the finished product. Ryan Anderson (Guitar, Vocals) and Javier Berlanga (Bass) met when Javier transfered to St. Giles. It was in eighth grade that Javier and Ryan both learned of each other's musical inclinations but it wasn't until their sophmore year of high school that they began to play in a band together. Though the band did go through many musical and personnel changes, one personnel change would stick for years to come. Mark Zoller (drums) started playing with Anderson and Berlanga near the end of high school. The three along with another guitarist (Brian Deziel) went into their college years with the intentions of sticking together as a band despite their geographical inconveniences. The band would practice together during the weekends and play the occasional party. It was through his time away at college that Berlanga became friends with Paul Martin. Martin was a jazz guitar performance major at NIU and the two seemed to click. It was through this relationship that Berlanga learned that Martin, despite being in school for guitar performance, also played keyboards. Martin agreed to play with the band for one show but quickly became drawn by the personalities of the band. After booting Deziel and going through what seems like a million different genres of music; what was once a band that got together on weekends and for the occassional party is now a serious gigging musical act. Since making the final changes in personnel, E-zel has become an interesting mix of rock and soul with an avante garde twist. They have played at various venues in the Chicago Land area including Fitzgerald's, The Double Door, and Subterranean. You can visit their myspace page at: www.,yspace.com/ezel1995