Taylor O’Donnell and Mike Effenberger

Experience an evening of exceptional music, delicious food, and fine wine in our intimate and relaxed setting

• Complimentary Wine Tasting at 5:30 to 6:00.
• Doors Open and Dinner Served at 6:00
• Dinner Service Closes & Show starts at 7:00 PM (Drinks & Dessert served during show).

About the show:

The indie jazz duo of Taylor O’Donnell and Mike Effenberger feeds on the joyful apposition of the ‘legit’ musical worlds of the 20th century (the Great American Songbook and post-classical music) against that unhallowed ground of the popular music of its odd-numbered decades, all viewed from the lens of what jazz means in the 2020s. They are through with the bending of genres and instead seek to shake them to death. Listeners are as likely to encounter surrealist reimaginings of Elliot Smith’s wise angst as they are the Pixies’ punk rage. Vincent Persichetti’s sonic riddles are presented equally with Paul Simon’s unlikely transcendence of the mundane into the sublime. The result is a completely singular musical perspective focused on melody, gesture, and aural storytelling.

Known for her exploratory use of vocal color and texture, and sincere delivery in her musical stylings, Taylor O’Donnell is a contemporary vocalist, educator, and conductor who uses her roots in R&B, folk, jazz, rock, and classical music to communicate her musical dialogue. Her musical diversity informs her deep love for vocal improvisation and for exploring a plethora of sounds and colors to connect more deeply to her audience.

Mike Effenberger 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 equally on gospel, minimalism, jazz, and 20th century music.

www.taylorodonnell.com
instagram.com/tayodonnell
facebook.com/100062955864668

A Listening Room Experience

Hermit Woods is excited to bring talented artists from New England and beyond to perform for you. Each performance will provide you with an intimate, up-close, and personal experience with the performing artists. We ask our audience please refrain from talking during the featured show. Your silence will allow the artists and the audience to immerse themselves in the experience, which is not otherwise possible in larger, noisier environments.

Doors open at 5:30 pm for a complimentary wine tasting. The Loft Doors open at 6:00. We encourage you to arrive early for our wine tasting and enjoy food and wine before the show. The kitchen will close at 7:00 for dinner service (dessert and drinks served during the show). When the featured artists takes the stage we will ask that the audience remain quiet during the performance. After the show, we invite you to interact with the artists and purchase any music or merchandise offerings if available.