Max Pashm

Max Pashm

Max Pashm leads a Jewish, Greek and Balkan collective built around electronic beats and melodies drawn from several musical traditions. He first comes to prominence in 1997 as one of the early figures in world fusion music, before Balkan sounds become more widely established in global beats and world music circles.

Style and repertoire

His sound combines Klezmer, Balkan, Greek and Gypsy Punk elements with prominent electronic percussion and dance-orientated production. The music also draws on dub, ska, hip-hop, rock and punk. Performances include lyrics in Greek, Bulgarian, Yiddish and English.

Band and personnel

The Max Pashm Band is described as a collective of UK-based Jewish, Greek and Balkan musicians. Named members include bouzouki player George Kypreos, clarinettist Merlin Shepherd, Bulgarian singer Eugenia Georgieva, guitarist Rik Harrington and Max Pashm, who performs vocals, percussion and electronics.

Releases and live work

After the release of the album Never mind the Balkans, the band performs more than 40 shows across 12 countries in 2008. The live show is known for combining dense musicianship, electronic backing and a sense of humour, and the group presents itself as a “falafel techno” act rooted in mash-up approaches to world music.