Max Pashm & Max Pashm Band

“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’.

- Ilka Schlockermann

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.
- loreille de moscou

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.

- Funkhaus Radio

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. - www.DailyJews.com

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.

- Milford & West Wales Mercury

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. - The Guardian