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Max Perkoff

About Me

Max Perkoff is a native of San Francisco. Jazz formed the core of his bohemian upbringing courtesy of his father, pianist Si Perkoff and mother, visual artist Sara Goren. His artistry on both the trombone and the piano is sometimes heard on the same concert, something he does increasingly often.

Sitting on the lap of drummer Elvin Jones at two, and getting to play his set; hearing his father rehearse in their apartment, during which time the Perkoff family had recently befriended Thelonious & Nellie Monk, and many more early experiences created quite a jazz-life for the young musician-to-be.

Perkoff graduated from Indiana University School of Music in 1985 with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies. Jazz teachers included David Baker, Dominic Spera, & Luke Gillespie. Trombone instruction was with M. Dee Stewart, and piano lessons with Edwuard Auer.

Additional teachers who had a great influence were pianists Barry Harris & Hal Galper, multi-reed artist David Liebman, and trombonists Frank Rehak & Conrad Herwig.

Gigs with his band include Yoshi’s in Oakland, Jazz At Pearls in San Francisco, The Jazz School in Berkeley, San Francisco Performances at Six; and as a sideman at virtually every club and venue for jazz in the region. From 1992-’95 he played trombone for the Mike Vax Great American Jazz Band in festivals all over the western United States.

In October 2004 Max recorded “Monk's Bones” with Monk's Music Trio and very special guest trombonist Roswell Rudd, released in February, 2006. In August of 2005 Max & Si recorded their duo album “Amazing Space,” released on December 1st, 2005. “Infinite Search, The Max Perkoff Band” was recorded in January 2007, due out in April '07.