Max Pashm & Max Pashm Band

Artist Information

Biography

Max Pashm is a musician, producer & DJ and band leader of the 'Max Pashm Band'.

He first rose to fame in the late nineties with his debut album ‘Weddings, Bar-mitzvahs & Funerals’ released on Sony Music in 1997.
Drawing on his Hebrew & Greek roots, Max established his reputation as one of the early pioneers of ‘global fusion music.’

From 1997-2000 Max toured Europe, building a dedicated fan base and following as a ‘One man band’, performing his unique blend of pumping beats, live vocals and driving percussion at numerous clubs and festivals.
Max continues to entertain worldwide audiences with his solo shows, combining his new material, with many of his new and well known remixes, as well as some of his classic back catalogue.

In 2006, Max formed the ‘Max Pashm Band’.
The band is a collective of ‘Greek, Balkan & Klezmer’ musicians based in the U.K. The collective includes some of the most leading and talented players of traditional Klezmer, Greek, Balkan & Gypsy music, from as far a field as Russia, Bulgaria, Greece and the U.K.

Following the release of the last album "Never mind the Balkans' in 2008, Max & the band have toured extensively in Europe, USA & Mexico, receiving international critical acclaim for both the album and their now imfamous live shows, expanding their fanbase and propelling their worldwide appeal to ever greater heights.

In 2010 the 'Max Pashm Band' and Max's live/DJ shows can be seen in 3 continents, including Europe, North & South America

The new album will be released later this year!

Instrumentation

Main band members are below but line ups vary slightly as the players are drawn from a larger and varied collective of musicians.

Main members include:
Max Pashm (vocals, percussion, keyboards & beats)

George Kypreos (Greek bouzouki & baglamas)
Eugenia Georgieva (Bulgarian vocalist)
Rik Harrington (Guitars)
Ginevra House (Violin & Keyboards)

Guests:
Laura Anstee (Cretan lyra & cello)
Simon Williams (Guitars)

Discography

Weddings Bar-mitzvahs & Funerals – Sony Music 1997
Champions – Pashmount Records 1998
Desert Delight (remix of Ekova) - Sony Music 1999
Re-release me (remix of Robert Miles) - Salt Records 2001
Passenger (remix of Head Mix Collective) 2002
Beginner’s Guide to Greece – Nascente Records 2007
Chill Le Monde – Blue Dot Records 2007
Flavour – No Fridge 2007
Constantinople is Istanbul (remix of Ska Cubano) 2008
Balkan Beats 3- Eastblok 2008
Bar Athens – Nascente Records 2008
Never mind the Balkans- Elektrikos/Organikos Records 2008
Nomads 7 - Supper Club 2009
Europe XXL - Polyphase 2009

Links

• myspace
• Download store

Audio

• Manea-k
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• Rembeteli (radio edit)
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• Fight on the streets (radio edit)
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• Imnul (radio edit)
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• The Tongue (lick a little-radio edit)
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• Queen of Sikim
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• Klezmernaki
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• Anarchy
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• Maximus Taximus
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Video

The Tongue (lick a little)

Photo Gallery

Press

• UK Press release Sept 2008 [+ Show ]
  

  “The ‘King of Falafel Techno’ leads a Jewish/Greek/Balkan collective in maximum mashed-up electronic...“The ‘King of Falafel Techno’ leads a Jewish/Greek/Balkan collective in maximum mashed-up electronic beats and melodies from different traditions around the world.”
  The Guardian Guide
  
  “Blistering Balkan beats and general nu-world trippiness from the highly danceable grooves of Max Pashm.”
  Time Out
  
  “Sun-blushed, bouzouki-fuelled Med mix-up.”
  fRoots
  
  Max Pashm first rose to fame in 1997 as one of the early pioneers of world fusion music, before the Balkan sound became omnipresent in Global Beats and World Music circles.
  
  The ‘Max Pashm’ sound is a unique blend of Klezmer, Balkan, Greek, Gypsy Punk with blistering electronic beats. A daring and perfect marriage fusing the old traditions with the new and cutting edge sounds of today and the future.
  
  The ‘Max Pashm Band’ is a collective of some of the finest UK based Jewish, Greek and Balkan musicians, including the bouzouki maestro George Kypreos, the imfamous Merlin Shepherd on Klezmer clarinet, Bulgarian singer Eugenia Georgieva, guitarist Rik Harrington and of course Max Pashm himself on vocals, percussion and electronics.
  
  After the release of the new ‘Max Pashm’ album ‘Never mind the Balkans’, the ‘Max Pashm Band’ have performed over 40 shows in 12 different countries in 2008.
  
  The live shows are a high energy experience, combining top musicianship with pulsing electronics and an underlying sense of humour and fun!
  As well as all the traditional influences, the shows contain flavours of Dub, Ska, Hip-Hop, Rock and Punk, blending many genres and styles to create a unique sound and performance, with lyrics in Greek, Bulgarian, Yiddish and English.
  Get to the end of the ‘Max Pashm Band’ show and you might just agree: ‘Never Mind The Balkans - Here’s Max Pashm’.
  
  

• Mi Plesemo, Balkan Festival 2007 [+ Show ]
  

  Sa., 17.11.07 Max Pashm und Band: "Never mind the balkans" Max Pashm, seit Jahren eine Koryphäe de...Sa., 17.11.07
  Max Pashm und Band: "Never mind the balkans"
  Max Pashm, seit Jahren eine Koryphäe des british underground, ist eine mächtige, aber äußerst freundliche Erscheinung. Ein Mann mit faszinierenden Klangvisionen. Seine Wahrnehmung von Rembetiko, Klezmer, Gypsy flavour, bulgarischen Vocals, Breakbeats oder Drum'n'Bass ist einzigartig und führt ihn zu bis dato unerhörten Klangverschmelzungen.
  
  Erstmalig präsentierte Max Pashm im Dortmunder Domicil sein neues Programm "Never minds the balkan" mit seiner sechsköpfigen Formation. Musiker mit griechischem und jüdischem Hintergrund, darunter die Klezmorim Merlin und Polina Shepherd, gehörten ebenso zum Line-up wie die Bulgarin Evgeniya Georgieva und der Bouzouki-Virtuose George Kypreos. Gebündelt wurde dieses wilde, pan-balkanische Power-Paket von Bandleader Max Pashm an Perkussion und Effekten.
  
  "KlezmerBalkanGreekGypsyPunk with Electro-beats", nennt Max Pashm sein Ansatz. Damit wurde er zum absoluten Highlight von Mi Plesemo. Das Konzert fand Mitten in der Nacht statt und wurde zu einem unvergesslichen Erlebnis. In Februar soll das Album "Never minds the balkan" endlich auf den Markt kommen.
  
  

• Pick of the week [+ Show ]
  

  Max Pashm The Lamp, Hull, Sunday The’King of Falafel Techno’ leads a Jewish/greek/Balkan collective ...Max Pashm The Lamp, Hull, Sunday The’King of Falafel Techno’ leads a Jewish/greek/Balkan collective in maximum mashed up electronic beats and melodies from different traditions around the world.

• Never mind the Balkans [+ Show ]
  

  righton reste une des places européennes les plus prolifiques en terme de brassages et d'expérimenta...righton reste une des places européennes les plus prolifiques en terme de brassages et d'expérimentations musicales. La preuve une nouvelle fois avec le gars qu'on appelle Max Pashm, dj pourvoyeur d'un son qui ne donne pas spécialement dans la "couleur locale".
  
  Never Mind The Balkans est la dernière sortie en date du monsieur. Entourés de musiciens débarqués des 4 coins de la planète, il propose un mix carabiné à qui veut bien l'entendre. Entre les mélanges d'un Shantel et les élucubrations de SoCalled, le Britannique se faufile en douceur, et brutalement ouvre sa discothèque aux quatre vents. Un album sans aucune prétention, qui s'il revêt quelques allures de déjà vu, rafraîchit malgré tout les méninges et réchauffe de l'intérieur. Un must pour l'automne à venir.
  
  Carburant à l'essence de contrebande klezmer et tzigane coupée à la nitro balkanique, les morceaux foisonnants de Pashm s'agglutinent autour de sonorités ancestrales autant que rock, ska, punk ou même drum'n'bass dans une pure esclandre festive qui décoincera le plus chétif des postérieurs et fendra de sourires la figure des plus sinistres sires. Ce qui par les temps qui courent devrait pouvoir être remboursable par la Sécu.
  
  En somme, un beau geste de santé publique et un voyage des plus intenses, avec en guise de G.O., un éclaireur, vieux routard devant l'éternel, qui se fout royalement des frontières. De là à dire qu'il est libre, Max, il n'y avait qu'un pas, de danse, qu'on arrête plus de franchir.
  

• MAX PASHM REVIEW by: Caroline Westbrook [+ Show ]
  

  Max Pashm If you've never heard the name Max Pashm before, then it's time you checked out the ...
  
  Max Pashm
  If you've never heard the name Max Pashm before, then it's time you checked out the work of this Brighton-based DJ – and in particular his album Weddings Barmitzvahs and Funerals.
  
  Originally released in 1997,and inspired by his Jewish heritage together with his love of Greek and Arab music, the album was a big hit across Europe and Israel, and ten years on, is well worth revisiting.
  
  The ten-track album gives a fresh new techno twist to some classic celebratory Hebrew tunes as well as Middle Eastern grooves – among the more recognisable tracks are The Wedding Dance, which puts a high octane beat on the old favourite Chusan Kallah Mazeltov (you'll never have heard it performed quite like this before). Other highlights include the fast-paced Jerusalem, and the trancey-sounding Ha'shem, while of the more secular tracks Tibetan Trance is a standout.
  
  These days, this kind of music is quite common, with artists such as Canadian musician and DJ Socalled, American performer Joshua Sitron and British band Emunah offering their own contemporary twist on old Jewish standards.
  
  However, when Max Pashm did it a decade ago, it was pretty groundbreaking stuff – not many people were doing this kind of thing with the songs of their forefathers.
  
  Ten years on, it seems to have stood the test of time – it still sounds cool and modern, even when compared to most of today's efforts, and with the rise in popularity of Jewish-themed dance music, is ripe for rediscovery. If you like your Jewish music fun, quirky and less than traditional, then this one's for you.

• Calling all Aquarians: Put on your party pants [+ Show ]
  

  This year's party launches the Span events calendar for 2008. It sees world-renowned Max PashM su...
  This year's party launches the Span events calendar for 2008.
  It sees world-renowned Max PashM supported by three of Span's favourite DJs: Goddess of the groove Shanna, who has been spinning globalicious tunes for over two decades; DJ Carlos, aka Funk 45, who specialises in a heady mix of funk, soul and banging breakbeats and Soul Daddy DJ Eugene, who promises to get you funked up.
  
  Headlining act, Brighton-based Max PashM, is a musician, DJ and producer, whose debut album Weddings Bar-Mitzvahs and Funerals is a must in any fusion fan's collection.
  Max Pashm's four-piece band combines Balkan, Greek and Klezmer musicians with Max's blistering electronic beats.
  Described as a cross between Gogol Bordello, Balkan Beat Box, Peter Gabriel and Belle and Sebastian, they thrill audiences worldwide and are renowned for exciting, uplifting and innovative live shows.
  The long awaited new album, Never Mind the Balkans-Here's Max PashM will be officially released next month.
  Gypsy punk percussion and vocals, form a powerful and uplifting fusion of old and new, which promises to lift the roof off the Queen's Hall and kick in the new year. For a sneak preview visit www.maxpashm.co.uk.
  The Aquarian party continues the Span Arts policy of bringing the best world music and fusion to the county. Add beautiful decor and great vibes into the mix and you are guaranteed a burst of sunshine in musical form to kick off the winter blues.
  
  

Setlist

Average set lengths vary from: 45-90 minutes depending on the event.

All the music and lyrics are original or based on traditional world melodies.
Vocals are sung in a combination of up to 6 languages,

Maximus Taximus
Fight on the streets
Imnul (kish mayn tokhes)
Rembeteli
I Neno
Klezmernaki
Anarchy
Once upon a time in Hellas
The Tongue
Manea-k
Angels
O Tembelis
Queen of Sikim

Basic Requirements

Calendar