dharma down

Drawing on their eclectic backgrounds and individual passions, Dharma Down brings together a cohesive adventure through music from past to present, local to global, but always in the here and now. Playing music from the across jazz compendium, the great American songbook, influences from traditional klezmer and eastern music, plus original compositions.

Duncan Hardy, saxophone
Mike Effenberger, piano
Scott Kiefner, bass
John Mettam, drums

New York drummer, John Mettam has performed and recorded with many world class artists across multiple musical genres. Highlights include Marc Ribot, Bobby Previte, Jamie Saft, David Tronzo, Matt Darriau, Brad Shepik, Andy Statman, Ivo Popazov, Ran Blake, and the Klezmatics.

Saxophonist Duncan Hardy is an active performer in the greater New England music scene. In 2010 he received his B.A. in Jazz Saxophone Performance from S.U.N.Y Purchase College. While at Purchase Duncan was awarded the prestigious James Moody Scholarship award and had the privilege of working with James Moody, Hank Jones, Jon Faddis, Steve Wilson, Eric Alexander, Jon Gordon, Hal Galper, Antonio Hart, Maria Schneider and Randy Brecker.

Keyboardist Mike Effenberger is a recording and performing artist who has been living in the 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. Studying with diverse artists including Jane Ira Bloom, Reggie Workman, Fred Hersch, and Joanne Brackeen, Mike has curated an unmistakably individual voice that draws on gospel, American minimalism, jazz, and 20th century music. Mike plays throughout New England with a variety of bands including Soggy Po Boys, fiveighthirteen, Jazzputin and the Jug Skunks, the secular gospel choir Rock My Soul, OURBIGBAND, Dan Blakeslee, and Weird Turn Pro, which plays his original music.

Bassist Scott Kiefner currently lives in Portland, ME. After graduating from McGill University, he returned to New England and began a busy career as a sideman and occasional bandleader. His skills and interests range from early jazz to metal to the avant garde and beyond. Kiefner performs regularly as a member of the Soggy Po Boys, Dharma Down, OURBIGBAND, Flacco’s Bizarre Adventure, and many more.