"Ken Aihara, the Japanese Multi-Keyboard player/Composer/Producer/Sound designer based in New York, is known for his unique blend of Jazz-fusion, EDM, Pops, and more, defying conventions.
Jazz Trail magazine describes “His performances as captivating and energetically charged."
His debut album Multiverse and latest release Circumsteller feature top artists including Virgil Donati, Anika Nilles (Jeff Beck), Andre Nieri, Bob Lanzetti (Snarky Puppy, 3× Grammy winner), Evan Marien (Allan Holdsworth), and Marko Djordjevic.
His achievement on keyboard skills and compositions were highly evaluated by all of them!
5 reviews
Philip D.
October 15, 2025I'm the bandleader of a 70's Disco|80's R&B review. Ken's task was to learn 28 songs in a short period of time. He is a highly professional, incredibly talented player. He was prepared. Everyone in the band enjoyed playing with him. He amazed the crowd and we hope to play with him again.
-Phil Diaz
Hired as: Keyboard Player
R T.
June 23, 2024On June 21, 2024 Ken joined our 9-person band on keyboard/piano for an outdoor concert. He played on 17 songs of a 21-song set, a handful of songs where Ken was the lead instrument, and many song where he had solos (and improvised), and the rest filling out our sound.
Overall Ken did terrifically. His playing was of high quality, very easily blended with the other instruments (three accoustic guitars, bass guitar, drums, flute) and was seemlessly smooth and suppportive for vocalists. His solos were improvised (or appeared so) and fit well with the vibe of the song and spirit of the event (1960s, 1970s, motown, folk, pop, country, R&B).
Ken was a professional in all respects. He was on-time, had obviously rehearsed and prepped well, came with music on his own tablet and was ready for each song with almost no direction. He was friendly, humble and easily got along with everyone in the band.
I highly recommend him for your events.
Co-Founder and Lead vocalist for NYC area band doing community events
Hired as: Keyboard Player
Ben A.
December 28, 2022Ken was awesome! Punctual and professional. Went above and beyond both before the show and during. Super talented and a leader on stage. Definitely recommend!
Hired as: Keyboard Player
Moussa N. A. R.
November 3, 2022First and foremost, Ken was on time, which I believe is the first impression of a professional.
Secondly, even though I sent him the list of the songs to be played the night before, he was able to handle the situation as I expected with only a few minutes of practice with our singer.
I would definitely recommend him for your events and I am also looking forward to doing business with him in the future.
Hired as: Keyboard Player
Shirley W.
September 21, 2021Ken was very polite and punctual for our Worship Service. He was also appropriately dressed for the event. He planned nicely with the other musicians before the service and they worked favorably together. He was not very familiar with our type of hymns, choruses, chants and intervals of prayers, but due to his high level of musical professionalism, he was able to accompany all singers throughout their performances in an acceptable manner. Thanks for your services GigSalad. You were able to find us a keyboard player with very short notice. 👍🏽👍🏽 Thanks again Ken Aihara for a job well done!
Hired as: Keyboard Player
Price range: $200 and up
Languages: English, Japanese
Gig length: 30 - 500 minutes
• Piano / Keyboard Performance
Ken Aihara is an experienced and versatile pianist/keyboardist specializing in live performance and accompaniment. He plays a wide range of styles including jazz, pop, R&B, Church, Top 40, and wedding repertoire. Ken is available for solo piano performances, duos, and full bands, and is comfortable supporting vocalists or other instrumentalists. With over 10 years of experience and a solid classical and contemporary background, he brings both musicality and reliability to every event.
•Remote recording by keyboard and Synth.
Ken has a great keyboard recording system and sound-making skills.
He did remote keys for Paul E West(Dizzy Gillespie) joined Album and Oz Noy, Mike Marciano(Grammy Winner engineer) joins Album.
•Sound Design
Ken has Solid knowledge of Sound design for SFX, Film, and Game Audio.
Ken did sound design work for Oz Noy and Mike Marciano(Grammy Winner), joined the Album, the Radiohead producer Sean Slade joined Album, etc...
Ken Aihara is New York-based Japanese Multi-Keyboard player/Composer/ Producer and Sound designer.
Ken mixes different elements of music (Jazz – fusion, EDM, Rock, etc..) to create his own style. Also, his performance produces deep and energy sound. Reason studios Called “New type of keyboardist….. such as keyboard Wizard!!”
Ken attended Osaka University of Art(OUA), Electronic keyboard major in Japan. While Ken studied keyboard techniques and he was inspired by progressive rock and Jazz-fusion. During his time at OUA, Ken won the first prize in the various band competitions and he had the best keyboard award in Osaka University of Art graduate concert.
After getting a degree(B.E), Ken attended Berklee College of Music.
Ken studied Piano under Steve Hunt(Allan Holdsworth), Mark Rossi(George Russell), Dave Limina(B.B. King), to name a few. He also studied electronic production design major for sound design, mix engineering, audio programming, and post-production works.
Ken graduated Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music and he moved to New York. He got opportunities to play with top New York musicians. Also, Ken played synth & sound design for drummer Tomo Hasebe ‘s on the album with Oz Noy, Isamu McGregor(Richard Bona)and Mike Marciano(Two times Grammy winner).
In (phone number hidden)9, Ken released Jazz- Fusion Album “Multiverse”. This Album ‘s credits include a Bob Lanzetti (Snarky Pappy, 3-times Grammy winner), Evan Marien(Allan Holdsworth, Virgil Donati), Marko Djordjevic(Matt Garrison, Wayne Krantz), Aaron Nevezie(Nerve-Jojo Mayer, Emmy Award-nominated) and Alex DeTurk(Brad Mehldau, Kamashi Washington).
Ken Aihara’s new album release, ‘Circumsteller,’ features an electrifying lineup of world-renowned musicians, each adding their distinctive flair to this musical odyssey. Collaborators include the virtuosic Drummer Virgil Donati, the mesmerizing Anika Nilles (known for her work with Jeff Beck), Brazilian guitar sensation Andre Nieri, the dynamic Evan Marien, the exceptional Bob Lanzetti, and the ingenious Jonathan LundBerg of Dirty Loops fame.
He did organize, all compositions, arranging and play keyboard for this Album. His achievement on keyboard skills and compositions were highly evaluated by all of them!
Also This Album got for “best ‘new jazz’ adventure for 2019”.
•Quotes
“Ken Aihara is one of the finest synth soloists I’ve played with, and his compositions have incredible depth.” - Evan Marien (Bassist, Allan Holdswoth, Virgil Donati)
“Participating in the making of Ken Aihara’s debut album Multiverse was a great pleasure, as well as a musical challenge. Mr. Aihara’s music is
eclectic, complex, energetic yet supremely listenable! - Marko Djordjevic (Drummer, Matt Garison, Wayne Krantz)
“What composer and pianist/keyboardist Ken Aihara has accomplished on his debut record Multiverse, is a perfect marriage of chops and rhythmic and harmonic complexity with tuneful, singable, often pretty songs. In addition, his use of keyboards and synths is thoughtful and always done to serve the music first.” - Bob Lanzetti(Guitarist from Snarky puppy, 3times Grammy Winner)
I can provide my keyboard and amp if not a piano on site.
Tuesday
Restaurant/Bar Event
10:00pm - 1:00am (Wed)
•
New York City, NY
Saturday
Birthday Party
6:00pm - 10:00pm
•
New Brunswick, NJ
Friday
Nonprofit Event
5:30pm - 7:30pm
•
Kew Gardens, NY
Thursday
Concert
9:00pm - 10:00pm
•
New York City, NY
Tuesday
Concert
10:00pm - 11:00pm
•
New York City, NY
Tuesday
Concert
8:30pm - 9:30pm
•
New York City, NY
Sunday
Religious Celebration
10:00am - 12:00pm
•
Bronx, NY
Sunday
Worship Service
11:00am - 2:00pm
•
Brooklyn, NY
Sunday
Worship Service
9:00am - 11:00am
•
Brooklyn, NY
Friday
Nightclub Event
8:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Brooklyn, NY
Thursday
Concert
7:00pm - 8:00pm
•
New York City, NY
Previous Gig Playlist(Pops/R&B)
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Jazz Standard tunes.
- Autumn Leaves, All of me, All of you
- A day of wine rose, All the things you are
- Ana Maria
- Body and Soul, Bolivia, Misty
- Giant Steps, Green Delphine street, 500miles
- Sunny, Golden Lady, Caravan, Ipanema
- One note Samba, Take Five, Spain
- My Funny Valentine, Blue Bossa
- Cantaloupe island, Fly me to the moon
- Foot print, I mean you, I’ll remember april
- Maiden Voyage, Moment Notice, So What
- Summer time, Take the A train
- When I fall in love, Billed bounce
- Bluesettle, Blue Monk
- Beautiful Love, Beatrice,But beautiful, Confirmation, Countdown
- Darn that Dream, Donna lee
- Equinox, Four, Groovin high
- Have you met mr johns
- How deep is ocean, I should care, Impression?
- Invention, Just Friends
- Lady Bird, Lazy Bird
- Lullaby of birdland, My foolish hart
- Night in Tunisia, Oleo, Round midnight
- Softy as in the morning
- Someday my prince will come
- ST Thomas, Stablemates, WaterMellon man
Jazz Fusion Songs.
- Actual Proof, Havana, Fred, Proto Cosmos
- Tokyo Dream, Bird land
- Db waltz, Mysterious Traveler
- Time Track, Butterfly
- City Gate, Teen town
- David Take hindmost, Funnel
- 16men,Sub aqua
- Mommy Uncle,Morning Spirit, Black Ice
Etc.
Pops and R&B tunes.
- Golden Lady, Superstation, Sir Duke
- Overjoyed, I just call to say love you, Chicken
- Let’s Stay Together, Don’t know Why
- Human Nature, Just of two the us
- Rock with you, What a fool believe
- Careless whisper, Afro blue
- Treasure: Bruno Mars, Sorry
- Moon like jaggle, Don’t stop now
- How long:Charlie puth
- Driver’s License?, Whatever
- Wonerwall BlackBird
- I want you love, PYT
- Valerie, Feel like makin love
- Twist and Shout Beatles,Shape of you
- Thinly out loud
- Little wing jimuhendrix
- Blue eyes blue
- Roxanne Sting Police
- Englishman in NY, Brown Sauger, Sunday Morning
Allan Holdsworth, Dream Theater, Chick Corea, EL&P, Dirty loops, Mark-de-clive-low, Planet X, Philippe Saisse, Donny Mccaslin Group, David Sancious, Geoffrey Keezer, Jason Rebello, Telfon Tel Aviv, (link hidden)ll,
Keyboard Player
