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     

Fri 5.16 6pm - solo piano - Martingale Wharf, Portsmouth NH

Fri 5.23 530pm - Soggy Po Boys - Summer Sunsets, Thompsons Point, Portland ME

Sat 5.24 9pm - Queen City Soul - Cara, Dover NH

Thu 5.29 6pm - DJ Dumptruck with Moe Pope - Portsmouth Music and Arts Center, Portsmouth NH

Thu 5.29 730pm - Mike Walsh quintet plays the music of Thelonious Monk - Portsmouth Music and Arts Center, Portsmouth NH

Fri 5.30 6pm - Duos with Russ Grazier and Eli Kaynor - Portsmouth Music and Arts Center, Portsmouth NH

Fri 5.30 730pm - Eric Klaxton quintet plays the music of Louis Armstrong’s Hot Fives - Portsmouth Music and Arts Center, Portsmouth NH

Sat 5.31 630pm - Soggy Po Boys at Baconfest - North Buick Lounge, North Berwick ME

Sun 6.1 630pm - Sad Bastards / Loose Standards - Andres Institute, Brookline NH

Thu 6.12 9pm - Chris Salemme - Stone Church, Newmarket NH

Fri 6.13 7pm - Soggy Po Boys - Parish Center for the Arts, Westford MA

Sat 6.14 7pm - Soggy Po Boys - Howland Cultural Center, Beacon, NY

Sun 6.15 5pm - Russ Grazier - Trinity Church, York ME

Fri 6.20 7pm - Soggy Po Boys - Word Barn, Exeter, NH

Thu 6.26 7pm - Dharma Down - Mad Monkfish, Cambridge MA

Fri 7.27 7pm - Rock my Soul Gospel Choir - Word Barn, Exeter NH

Sat 7.28 7pm - Soggy Po Boys - Showroom, Keene NH

Sun 6.29 6pm - Soggy Po Boys - Andres Institute, Brookline NH

Thu 7.3 6pm - Soggy Po Boys - Monument Square, Portland ME

Sun 7.13 7pm - Soggy Po Boys- Inn at Newfound Lake, Bristol NH

Sat 7.19 5pm - Soggy Po Boys - Jazz and Blues Festival, Biddeford, ME

Sat 7.25 6pm - Soggy Po Boys - Depot Square, Peterborough NH

Sat 7.26 5pm - Soggy Po Boys - Woodman Museum, Dover NH

Thu 7.31 7pm - Soggy Po Boys - Fitzwilliam Common, Fitzwilliam 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.