A classically-trained saxophonist, Max Schwimmer channels instrumental virtuosity into a keen sense of musical exploration. In chamber music, jazz big band, klezmer, and rock/pop settings, Max’s respect for stylistic traditions makes him a sought-after soloist and collaborator. He currently performs with the Driftwood Quintet and the Scottsdale Community College Jazz Orchestra, and leads the Little Chef Klezmer Band, serving up high-energy Yiddish instrumental music for Jewish lifecycle events and public concerts.
In January of 2024, Max organized a multi-day artist residency with accordionist Christina Crowder, showcasing recently-discovered klezmer manuscripts from Ukraine in concerts and educational events in Phoenix. Other recent performance highlights include a tour throughout Arizona and Mexico with Jerusafunk, Sedona VortiFest with The Bergamot, and the Mirage Summer Music Series at Mesa Arts Center with Jon Rauhouse and Blaine Long. Max has performed in Ukraine with organist Elena Udras, Carnegie Hall with the Juilliard Orchestra under Marin Alsop, with the U.S. Coast Guard Band and Philadelphia's International Opera Theater, and in concerts at Boston Athenaeum, the Newport Music Festival, and the International Festival of Arts and Ideas as a founding member of the Asylum Quartet.
Max has worked with over 2,500 students in one-on-one saxophone lessons, educational workshops, and outreach concerts. His private students have placed into selective programs including the Greater Hartford Youth Wind Ensemble at The Hartt School, the Connecticut Music Educators Association's regional and all-state bands, and Interlochen Arts Camp. He has taught saxophone at Manchester Community College, Music and Arts East Hartford, South Windsor High School, and Camp Encore/Coda in Maine. He led the Instrumental Music program during the inaugural season of the URJ 6 Points Creative Arts Academy in Pennsylvania.
Max’s arrangements for saxophone ensembles include works by Charles Ives, Philip Glass, Beethoven, Debussy, Franck, Gershwin, Piazzolla, Zorn, Imogen Heap, Beyonce, Ljova, Louis Thomas Hardin ("Moondog") and others.
Max holds a Master's of Music from The Hartt School at the University of Hartford where he studied with Carrie Koffman. He completed a Bachelor of Music from Arizona State University's Herberger Institute of Design and the Arts School of Music as a student of Dr. Timothy McAllister. He has completed additional studies in klezmer and Balkan style at international workshops and in private lessons with clarinetists Zilyn Biret, Susie Evans, and Ariane Morin.
When not playing saxophone, Max works as a digital marketing manager, currently in the healthcare industry.