Meet Max

Max Behrens is a Washington, DC-based jazz drummer with diverse musical tastes and experience. Max recently resumed public performances after a lengthy hiatus and is grateful for every opportunity to play. Previously, Max led and performed in various ensembles throughout DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston, and New Orleans.

Max has performed professionally with an eclectic list of musicians including Zwelakhe-Duma Bell le Pere (Ndudzo Makhathini), Tosin Abasi (Animals as Leaders), Rob Ingraham (The Revivalists), Butch Haynes (Herbie Hancock, Carlos Santana), John Doheny (The Temptations, Bel Biv Devoe), and Tom McDermott (Evan Christopher, John Boutte). In the DC jazz scene, Max has worked with Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Peter Edelman, Elijah Jamal Balbed, Brian Falkowski, and Jerome Meltzer, among many others. Max has performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Adams Morgan Day Festival.

Max earned his bachelor’s degree in music (and cell and molecular biology) from Tulane in 2006, where he received the Sarah I. Nadler Memorial Award in Music, the Yvonne de Tréville Scholarship in Music, and the Distinguished Scholar Award. Max continued his musical pursuits in grad school, anchoring Harvard’s Dudley House Jazz Band.

As a violinist, Max was a member of the NIH Philharmonia, New Orleans Chamber Orchestra, the Tulane Symphony Orchestra, and the Northwestern Philharmonia. He performed in the Bach Around the Clock Festival, and in several string quartets. In high school, Max earned “Superior” ratings in both solo and ensemble contests from the Minnesota State High School League.

Max owns and operates Merit Drum Company, offering repair, restoration, and conservation services for drums and percussion instruments. He has over 15 years of experience restoring vintage drums.