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Max Holmberg

Max Holmberg is a Seattle based drummer, bandleader and educator. He first started getting to know the drum set at his grandpa's house at age two. Born into a family of actors and musicians, it's no surprise that the first music he remembers listening to is Count Basie. Max got his fist real taste of jazz playing in the jazz programs at Eckstein Middle School and Roosevelt High School in Seattle. Max then moved to Boston for four years where he completed his B.M. at Berklee College of Music. Upon completion, he returned to Seattle where he currently resides and can be found performing in person and on the radio with many diverse projects and bands including the Alex Dugdale BandMark Hunter QuintetJacqueline Tabor Jazz Band, 200 Trio, Danny Quintero Band, The Arsonists, the Eric Patterson Band, The Pacific Northwest Ballet School, and the Kareem Kandi Band, as well as teaching out of his studio and at the Seattle Drum School. Max hosts the Sunday night jam session at the Angry Beaver in Greenwood, co-runs the podcast Jazztalk Seattle, and runs the Secret Jazz Club on Airbnb. 

 

Throughout Max's musical journey, he has had the opportunity to perform in 7 different countries and gain personal experience and knowledge from many notable musicians. Some highlights include performing clinics at Berklee College of Music with Joanne Brackeen, Eddie Gomez, and Wayne Krantz, a performance/rehearsal at Lincoln Center with the Roosevelt High School Jazz Band and Wynton Marsalis, workshops with Gerald Clayton, Joe Lovano, the late Rashied Ali, and the late James Moody, a performances and recording with the Roosevelt Jazz Band and Cuong Vu, among others. In addition to these artists, a special thanks goes out to Benny Green, Neal Smith, Katia Roberts, Ernesto Diaz, Tyler Richart, Joanne Brackeen, Stuart MacDonald, Moc Escobedo, Lisa Holmberg, Ed Mays and Scott Brown for going above and beyond in helping mentor Max as a musician, drummer and human spirit.

 

Max has since been a featured guest artist at the University of VirginiaCharlottesville(UVM), Gonzaga UniversityEastern Washington University, and Whitman College.

Awards

Community in Action Award, Golden Ear Awards

Numerous other Golden Ear nominations

Gear

Endorsed by Bosphorus Cymbals, Craviotto Drums educator artist


Tags

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Album Review

Ryan Burns: Postponed Parade

Read "Postponed Parade" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


Keyboardist Ryan Burns' Postponed Parade happened, in large part, because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The vexing virus that hit us in 2020 made getting together difficult and dangerous--for music-making or anything else. So here is what Burns did: During Covid-19 times he recorded and released a single tune each month, from May to October 2020. These sessions took place in his contributing musicians' houses, with the exception of “Shoreline," recorded in a studio, but with everyone in a separate room. ...

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"...swings like a well-oiled gate in a windstorm." -Abe Beeson, 88.5 FM KNKX

"...you can do it all, man. If you looked up jazz drummer in the encyclopedia, there would be a picture of you. Wherever I hear you, you sound fantastic. It's like you can do anything...and you look great playing too." -John Gilbreath, Earshot Jazz, Director

Primary Instrument

Drums

Location

Seattle

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

Bachelor of Music, Berklee College of Music

Private teacher since 2009. Have taught in many schools around the Seattle area and have taught workshops/master classes at colleges including University of Virginina Charlottesville, Eastern Washington University, and Whitman College. Also a teacher at the Seattle Drum School.

Music

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