inspirations
“In no particular order, I consider the following music legends to be my inspirations: Ahmad Jamal, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock, Vince Guaraldi, Cory Henry, Robert Glasper, Oscar Peterson, Joe Zawinul, A Tribe Called Quest, Soulive. Some are pianists, but not all of them. I just like the way they all play and their approach, their taste, their style. When I hear their music, something speaks to me and I might borrow some of the technique and incorporate it in the way I myself play piano. It’s impossible not to be influenced by what you listen to, so I listen to my heroes in hopes to assimilate their flavor in the shaping of my own music.
I love all kinds of music though, from honky-tonky blues and boogie, to old school hip-hop and R&B, to salsa music. My favorite thing to do is to take something familiar and try to make it more interesting. Whether it’s playing a jazz standard, or a Top 40 song at weddings, part of the fun in music is the improvisational freedom to use your ‘creative license’ and put your individual spin on it.
When an idea strikes me, I like to follow it and see where my composition goes. I didn’t do any prestigious music program but as an artist, I’ve just always tried to get better and reach the next plateau in my music. A lot of people all over have shared their gifts with me: songwriters, vocalists, arrangers, horn players, etc. I feel really fortunate because it’s these collaborations that have made me better. ”
See Ethan Live.
Check out Ethan’s public Performance Calendar for a full list of events, updated monthly. The following places are where he works most regularly, so come out and say hi, request a song, have a beverage, and support live music.
moana surfrider resort & spa
Ethan plays at the Moana Surfrider every Wednesday evening, so make sure you stop by this beachfront hotel and enjoy the hotel's history and its museum on the 2nd floor, and the BYOB-approved piano lounge. Located in the heart of Waikiki and recognizable by its European-style Ionic columns, the Moana is a historic landmark in Honolulu as it was the first hotel built in Waikiki! Hawaii's first electric-powered elevator was also installed here and is still in operation today. The hotel's opening in March 1901 marked the beginning of tourism in Waikiki, and it became a rest area for soldiers and sailors during WWII.
LEWERS LOUNGE
You can find Ethan every Thursday night on the grand piano at Lewers Lounge, an upscale jazz lounge tucked away in the beautiful Halekulani Hotel. If you’re a jazz enthusiast, you’ll want to stop in for some craft libations and enjoy jazz music in an intimate setting. Ethan performs solo here weekly, so check out his Public Calendar for exact times.
lyons mane entertainment
Ethan is part of the spectacular Lyons Mane Entertainment, a band specializing in weddings, corporate events, and private functions. They do travel, and are known as having the best musicians who play all of your favorite songs and guarantee that your guests will be on the dance floor. Please get in touch if you’d like to book them for an event, or to catch them at a future showcase.