Album Notes

At just sixteen years old, Ethan Hanson has begun to make a mark on the local live music scene in the Sandhills area of North Carolina. He delights crowds with cover songs from the 60’s to the present, and has them singing along just about every word to his own songs '" especially “Fly Away”, and “Through Your Eyes”.

Every now and then you come across a young person who seems to be a bit beyond his years. It seems that Ethan Hanson is an ‘old soul’ when it comes to writing and delivering a song. Whether he’s just playing an instrumental or singing as well, it comes from that place inside that is found only in the heart... you can feel it. On this first cd of Ethan’s, self titled and self produced, you hear his influences from spoken word to jazz, blues, and acoustic rock. He takes those ingredients and delivers a tasty blend.


“ ...(cover) songs went over well in his aggressively up-tempo style of playing that brings to mind Dave Matthews. Hanson’s rhythm playing has a real snap to it. His young voice was warm, catchy, with a good measure of rhythm and blues. But perhaps the most striking selections of the evening were the originals that he (Ethan) introduced. A couple (songs) were jazz-striped instrumentals, still lacking formal titles. Those displayed a skillful command of the guitar, only four years after he started to approach music seriously. Then there was the original composition “Fly Away”. This slow number with a sweet, funky groove brings to mind Stevie Wonder. Or, for Hanson’s younger generation, the likes of neo-soul artist John Legend. As a budding musician, Hanson falls among a new generation of clear-eyed singer-songwriters who lack an allegiance to such mythical rock figures as Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. Instead, Hanson cites such Johnny-come-lately influences as Jason Mraz, John Mayer and John Legend.
Michael Futch, Staff Writer, Fayetteville News & Observer, 07-24-2005