11/23
Sunday, 4pm
Ethan Moffitt Jazz Trio Bios
Ethan Moffitt, bass
Ethan Moffitt grew up playing music since he was 4 years old, starting on the violin and graduating the size of the instrument he played as he grew. Coming from a family of musicians and artists, Ethan was surrounded by many different types of performance and artistic expression, leading him to pursue an eclectic and diverse musical life.
Hailing from Los Angeles, Ethan studied at the Colburn School of Performing Arts from age 7 until graduating high school where he studied violin, viola, double bass, chamber music, composition, jazz improvisation and performance, all the while submitting his original works to competitions and festivals. He has had his work performed in Prague, Austria, Salzburg, Munich, New York City and Boston by ensembles such as the Colburn Youth Orchestra, The Berklee Concert Jazz Orchestra, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, and the USC Thornton Symphony Orchestra and has received honors from said institutions. During his time at USC he studied with artists such as Andrew Norman, Ted Hearne, Donald Crockett, Christopher Trapani and Vince Mendoza (composition) as well as David Moore (long-time member and 4th chair bassist of the LA Philharmonic). Ethan was a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center in 2022 and 2023 and a fellow at the Aspen Music Festival in 2024. He was most recently was an acting member of the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra during their 2025 season.
As a non-classical instrumentalist, Ethan has collaborated and recorded with artists such as David Binney, Justin Brown, Rachel Eckroth, Louis Cole, Genevieve Artadi, Ambrose Akinmusire, Steve Lehmann, and Dasha. He has released three albums of original music: In an Onwards Spiral is a collection of songs and pieces for mixed ensemble and Ethan self-recorded, performed and produced this album. His second album is two classical works: impressions of an occult nightmare for string quartet and Concert Piece, which is a concerto grosso for flute and mixed ensemble. His third is a collection of compositions for electric bass and other intruments, aptly entitled Semi-Compositions for Electric Bass and Other Instruments. Ethan holds a dual Bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California in Double Bass Performance and Composition. Ethan is currently principal double bass with the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra, and when he is not playing music, he likes to rock climb, read, compose and write.
Adam Hersh, piano
Los Angeles based pianist, keyboardist, and composer Adam Hersh was born in Castaic, CA. Since graduating from California State University, Northridge, Adam has been a regular on the LA jazz scene as both a leader and sideman, performing and recording with highly regarded musicians such as Bob Sheppard, Mike Moreno, Warren Wolf, Munir Hossn, Bill Holman, Gary Novak, Billy Childs, Andrew Renfroe, Joe LaBarbera Gene Coye, Josh Nelson, Ron Stout, Jon Hatamiya, Miguel Atwood Ferguson, Justin Brown, Doug Webb, Nicole McCabe, Jimmie Herrod, Kaisa Maensivu, Hadrien Feraud, Jermaine Paul, Myles Martin, Devin Daniels, Graham Dechter, Charles Ruggiero and Ben Van Gelder.
Adam is a versatile musician, adept at performing other’s challenging originals, playing piano in modern/fusion/straight ahead contexts, and also equally as comfortable programming sounds on synthesizers and utilizing electronics and keyboards. He can be found regularly performing at LA’s premier jazz club “Sam First” and the historic “Baked Potato”, along with venues along the coast such as “Libretto” in Paso Robles, and “SF Jazz” in San Francisco. His trio featuring Max Gerl and Gary Novak will debut on the east coast in December of 25’.
Adam was selected as a Ravinia Composition Fellow in 2017, and in 2019 he accompanied vocalist Nalaya Brown for a three month residency at Quincy Jones’ Q’s Bar and Lounge in Dubai, UAE. Adam released his debut album House Roots in 2020. This synthesizer focused jazz fusion record was recorded entirely remotely with LA heavy hitters. In 2022 and 2023, he undertook two large transcription and performance projects. The first was a full transcription of Wayne Shorter’s album High Life, a Grammy Award winning orchestral and fusion album released in 1995. The second project focused on a selection of compositions from iconic fusion guitarist Allan Holdsworth, which Adam performed with long-time collaborator, Gary Novak, on the drums. His second album, Tornado Watch, was released in April 2024 and featured a sextet playing 9 original compositions and an arrangement of Herbie Hancock’s “Toys” recorded live at Sam First Jazz club in Los Angeles. In November of 2025, Adam will release a collaborative album with bassist Mauricio Morales “Between Dreams and Twilight” an expansive project focusing on long-form through composed pieces exploring themes of fantasy and time. This album features Mike Moreno, Warren Wolf, Gary Novak, and the Rogue Lemon String Quartet. Adam’s regular trio that includes Max Gerl and Gary Novak will release their first record in Spring of 2026, featuring compositions inspired by the music of Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, and Billy Childs.
Benjamin Ring, drums
Benjamin Ring is a drummer, percussionist, and composer based in Los Angeles, originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. His musical journey began at age 8 in orchestral percussion, becoming one of the youngest members of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra at 12 and performing in prestigious European venues like the Berlin Philharmonie and Amsterdam Concertgebouw. During his teenage years, he developed his love for jazz, playing with Oaktown Jazz, SFJAZZ’s High School All-Stars, and the Berkeley Jazzschool, earning awards from the Monterey Jazz Festival and SFJAZZ.
He earned a Bachelor’s in Music from the University of Southern California, studying with Peter Erskine and Ndugu Chancler, and later a Master’s from the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz Performance at UCLA, where he learned from Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, and Ambrose Akinmusire. These experiences solidified his foundation in both performance and composition, contributing to his growth as a versatile artist.
As a composer, Benjamin's work spans jazz, classical, and electronic styles. His piece Mental Gymnastics won the Bridges Composition Competition and premiered at the Ravinia Festival in 2022. His debut album, With Every Step, released on Fresh Sound New Talent in 2024, highlights his distinctive voice as both a drummer and composer.
Benjamin has performed with renowned artists such as Billy Childs, David Binney, and Patrice Rushen, appearing at iconic venues including Jazz at Lincoln Center and the bun Hollywood Bowl. With his dynamic playing and innovative compositions, he continues to establish himself as a rising force in contemporary jazz and beyond.