about


Mike Effenberger is a recording and performing artist who has been living in the NH Seacoast since 2007. He received the Young Beacon in Jazz award from New School University in New York City, from which he graduated in 2005. While there, he studied with diverse artists including Jane Ira Bloom, Kenny Werner, John Hollenbeck, Reggie Workman, Fred Hersch, and Joanne Brackeen.  Mike has curated an unmistakably individual voice that draws on gospel, minimalism, jazz, and 20th century music.

Mike plays throughout New England with a variety of bands including fiveighthirteen, Jazzputin and the Jug Skunks, the secular roots and gospel choir Rock My Soul, OURBIGBAND, Sad Bastards / Loose Standards, Showmen's Rest, Dan Blakeslee.  He leads Weird Turn Pro, which plays his original music.  When not in the northeast, Mike performs internationally with Bing and Ruth, and plays throughout the east coast with Soggy Po’ Boys.  Mike appears on countless recordings from independent releases to larger labels, including 4AD and RVNG Intl, and is also active as a producer.

His work has been written about in international publications including the Paris Review, The Guardian, and Pitchfork, as well as appearing on nationally syndicated media including NPR's All Things Considered and PRX's Echoes.

When not at a piano bench, he can typically be found in the woods.

     shows     

Sat 1.17 7pm - Soggy Po Boys at the Word Barn, Exeter NH

Sun 1.18 2pm - Let Freedom Ring, Portsmouth Brass Ensemble Expansion Quartet (John Page, conductor) at South Church, Portsmouth NH

Mon 1.19 6pm - Chris Klaxton quartet at the Press Room, Portsmouth NH

Fri 1.23 8pm - Soggy Po Boys at One Longfellow Square, Portland ME

Sat 1.24 730pm - Dharma Down at Portland Conservatory of Music for the Dimensions in Jazz concert series, Portland ME

Tue 2.3 9pm - Soggy Po Boys residency downstairs at the Press Room, Portsmouth NH

Friday 2.13 730pm - Soggy Po Boys at the Loading Dock, Littleton NH

Sat 2.14 8pm - Soggy Po Boys at Caffe Lena, Saratoga Springs NY

Sat 2.15 2pm - Soggy Po Boys at the Rex Theater, Manchester NH

Sat 2.15 7pm - Soggy Po Boys at the Andres Institute, Brookline NH

Tue 2.17 7pm - Soggy Po Boys with Max Chase at the Press Room FOR FAT TUESDAY at the Press Room, Portsmouth NH

Fri 2.20 8pm - Soggy Po Boys at Bull Run, Shirley MA

Sat 3.14 - Soggy Po Boys at The Preserve At Chocorua, Tamworth NH

Sun 3.15 3pm - American Voices: guest soloist, performing “Rhapsody in Blue” with the Portsmouth Symphony Orchestra at the Music Hall, Portsmouth NH

current bands

media

Frequent areas of study include:

  • Classical piano

  • Jazz improvisation

  • Ear training

  • Music theory

  • Composition and arranging

  • Gospel and Spirituals

  • Audio production

teaching

Mike is sought after as an educator, maintaining a busy private studio as well as teaching at the Portsmouth Music and Arts Center.  He approaches every student individually, meeting them where they are and sending them where they want to go.  His students range from children to senior citizens and run the gamut in genre and musical background.