KAPA‘A — Everyone loves a piano player. If there would be a musician who could possibly entertain each and every musical taste, it would definitely be a pianist. Luckily for us, a talented and versatile pianist plays regularly in a
KAPA‘A — Everyone loves a piano player. If there would be a musician who could possibly entertain each and every musical taste, it would definitely be a pianist. Luckily for us, a talented and versatile pianist plays regularly in a centrally-located restaurant on Kaua‘i.
Three times a week, pianist and singer Ivo Monroe Miller shares his immense talent with patrons at Lemongrass Grill for three straight hours. The unique restaurant that resembles an Asian pagoda is located on the side of the road in Waipouli.
The salt-and-pepper-haired pianist, with his mild manners and soft voice, would easily disappear in a crowd. But when he sits in front of his piano, it’s a different story, and his talent sets him apart.
The guests can request many of their favorite songs. Miller brings an extensive list with him. His impressive repertoire includes Hawaiian songs, jazz and bossa nova, classic music and a list from A to Z of almost 300 tunes.
The all-around pianist has traveled a great deal. From small places like the tiny and sunny island of Lanai, to dark and hooliganesque London bars, he’s played everywhere. He even played — and sang — with the famous Glenn Miller Orchestra.
Miller’s decades-long career includes playing in far-fetched places such as Morocco, and a lot of work in events, restaurants, clubs, pubs and five-star resorts all over the United States, plus in several cruise ships around the world.
Since 1999, Miller has made the Hawaiian Islands his home, and after playing all over the archipelago, he set anchor seven years ago on Kaua‘i, where he now raises his eight-year-old boy together with his wife of 15 years.
Miller described his son Jordan as a walking miracle. The boy was born premature, weighting a mere pound and four ounces.
“He’s never had a setback. I put music in his incubator,” said Miller, adding that his son is now a brilliant 7th grade student at Wilcox School.
As a 5-year-old boy, Miller discovered the piano, and has never stopped playing.
He earned a bachelor in music in 1972 from the University of Miami, double-majoring in piano and vocals. But the schooled pianist says he still gets the most pleasure from playing by ear.
“I still go back to playing by ear, even though I can read (music).”
Besides playing at Lemongrass Grill, Miller surprisingly performs at Wilcox Hospital.
About two years ago, Dr. Chen donated a gorgeous Weber piano, worth around $50,000, to the hospital. Miller has been performing there for the last six months, entertaining patients and visitors every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 1 p.m.
The sound of that piano, Miller said, is incredible. “The music goes up to the heavens.”
After almost four decades past his graduation, Miller is finally getting into composing music. Just like he said, “you can never learn too much.”
The Lemongrass Grill usually flies under the locals’ radar. But the restaurant gets fairly busy every night. Its extensive menu is nothing short of amazing.
The restaurant offers 10 delicious appetizers, several salads and over 30 entrees that please vegetarians, seafood lovers and meat eaters alike.
The crab cakes, served with a special sauce and pineapple salsa, would leave any local saying it “broke the mouth.” The lobster ravioli, filled with cheese and herbs, is served with a delicate lobster sauce, laden with pieces of broiled lobster.
Miller plays at Lemongrass Grill every Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 6 to 9 p.m. For more information call 822-2888.
