The Ethan Parker Band makes the kind of music you can close your eyes too...in a good way. Lead singer and guitarist Ethan Parker sings with a sense of wonder that is infectious and shamelessly hopeful. This hope goes well beyond the stage and has taken this band on a unique path of service and community impact.
Parker began as a solo artist in 2010 and formed the Ethan Parker Band two years later after meeting his future bandmates in college. Since that time, they have merged their passions to help orphans and at-risk youth by forming Project Primavera.
The program's name isn't an accident. Primavera, which means spring in Latin, brings a message of joy and new life to children in youth centers around the country. Their blend of Tennessee folk and rootsy Caribbean jazz tells the story of how this group came together.
Born and raised in Memphis, Parker was immersed in Blues and Folk traditions before moving to Florida where the popularity of acoustic guitar and ukulele influenced his music. He went on to study at Palm Beach Atlantic University with dreams of writing and recording. While in school he met other classmates who would eventually become his friends and bandmates.
Their newest project, “From The Mountains To The Sea" was written and recorded in the mountains of North Carolina and Palm Beach, Florida—the environments in which they were inspired. The first half of the album, “From the Mountains” was released in March 2014 with the second, “To The Sea” released on March 20, 2015. Both were self-released.
In their most recent project, "To the Sea", the Ethan Parker Band proves that their laid back beach vibe isn't elevator music. These guys can really play. This album's first track, More Than This World, would make any Jack Johnson or Donavon Frankenreiter fan feel at home.
"Ethan Parker Band proves that their laid back beach vibe isn't elevator music. These guys can really play."
They follow it up with Deep Blue Sea: an inspiring Dave Matthews-esque turn-it-up-and-drive tune for when you need an afternoon with Jesus. The writing here is some of their best work, and Parker's vocals are perfect. Don't miss this song.
It's easy to cheer for these guys. They genuinely seem like they're trying to honor Christ by sharing their lives and sound with a weary world. So just in case you don't have a chance to escape to the Caribbean this winter, do the next best thing and grab one of the Ethan Parker Band's latest projects. Go ahead and close your eyes.