BIO
Max Popp first picked up the sticks at the tender age of 9, playing the snare drum in the grade school band at Annunciation B.V.M. He quickly moved on to the drum set and by age 10, he was already performing every year at the talent shows, even landing his first gig at the age of 13. His first drum teacher was Andrew Hix, who was instrumental in Max’s early development-teaching him the rudiments, technique, how to read, and to authentically play a multitude of genres/styles. Hix also provided some invaluable opportunities-arranging for Max to study privately with R&B drumming icon Zoro (Lenny Kravitz, Bobby Brown), legendary drummer Gregg Bissonette (David Lee Roth, Maynard Ferguson, Steve Vai, Ringo Starr) and attend clinics with jazz drumming icon Ralph Peterson Jr (Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers, Michael Brecker, Branford Marsalis, Roy Hargrove) and Liberty DeVito (Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, Karen Carpenter).
Max attended West Aurora High School, performing in the school jazz ensemble and won both the Duffy Jackson ‘Most Outstanding Soloist’ Award and the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award in 2007. Throughout high school, he performed in various bands until joining For Your Eyes Only- a post hardcore band out of Aurora, Illinois, Max’s hometown. The band had a large following in the midwest and would hit the road on the weekends, performing all over Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The band had a big break in 2007, performing at the House of Blues in Chicago and winning the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands. This landed them a coveted slot at the 2007 Vans Warped Tour, performing alongside Coheed and Cambria, My Chemical Romance, Paramore, Killswitch Engage, Atreyu and more.
Popp went on to North Central College in Naperville, Illinois to major in jazz studies under the tutelage of the great jazz drummer/educator Jack Mouse. Mouse was a huge influence on Max, teaching him the art of jazz drumming, improvisation, the art of playing brushes, and the ins and outs of the music business. In 2011 Max was awarded the Clarence Juhnke Award for Most Outstanding Music Major.
Max continued to perform professionally around Chicago, both as a leader and as a sideman with saxophonist Kevin Nabors, saxophonist Frank Catalano (Columbia Records), guitarist John McLean and more. In 2012 he formed a band with guitarist Hans Luchs, bassist Andrew Vogt, and organist Dan Chase called The Humble Organisms. The band played in and around the Chicagoland area with steady residencies at the House Pub in St. Charles, IL, Even Flow in Geneva, IL, as well as performing at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago, Reggie’s in Chicago, and the Coast Guard Festival in Grand Haven, MI. In 2013 they recorded and released their debut album ‘Humble Beginnings’.
Since moving from Chicago, Illinois to the UK in December 2016, Popp burst onto the music scene, performing both internationally and all over the country in many capacities. Max has been a featured performer three times on the BBC Jazz Nights Series- in the 2017 “Jazz Nights at The Quay” session in Glasgow with pianist Fraser Urquhart, in 2019 for the “Jazz Nights from the Edinburgh Fringe” with pianist Brian Kellock, and in March 2021 with singer Georgia Cécile as well as BBC Radio Scotland ‘LIVE from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival’ with Georgia Cecile . Max’s drumming can be heard on Georgia Cécile’s debut studio album “Only the Lover Sings”, which made it to the #3 spot on the UK Jazz Billboard charts and #4 on the Scottish overall Billboard charts. Max is currently on tour with Georgia Cecile and has recently performed two sold-out shows at the Duc De Lombards in Paris, France and a slew of theaters across the UK. He also recently performed two sold-out shows at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London with Georgia Cecile and pianist Fraser Urquhart as well as the South by Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas, the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, another two sold out shows at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London, and The Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh. His drumming has been featured many times on the Jamie Cullum show on BBC Radio 2, London Jazz Radio, BBC Radio Scotland, WDCB Jazz Radio in Chicago, Illinois, and most recently BBC Radio 4 ‘Front Row’. He regularly performs at the Jazz Bar in Edinburgh where he has held the drum throne with the Jazz Bar Big Band on Mondays, with the house piano trio for the Tuesday “Great Jazz Jam Sessions”, with “The World Premiere Quintet” on Saturdays, on Sundays for the “Speakeasy Sessions”, “Spotlight Sessions”, “Sunday Serenade” and various other times for monthly residencies as well as backing up local and touring musicians. Max has been the house drummer for the Perth Theatre Pantomime four years in a row. He has played/toured and/or recorded with Georgia Cecile, Jim Mullen, Valery Ponomarev, Brian Kellock, Kirk MacDonald, Virginia MacDonald, Michael Kanan, Fraser Urquhart, Euan Stevenson, Seonaid Aiken, Enrico Tomasso, Ryan Quigley, Rita Payes, David Series, the Gil Scott Heron Songbook, Bird n Diz Project, the Rachel Lightbody Quintet, John McLean, Frank Catalano, and many more. Max is an in-demand drummer that can authentically execute a myriad of musical styles and is most often the first call for many of the UK’s finest musicians.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Valery Ponomarev (Trumpeter in Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers)
Five night engagement at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2024
Five night engagement at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2022
Georgia Cécile
The Blue Note, Milan, Italy 2024
Ronnie Scott’s, Soho, London, UK 2024 SOLD OUT!
The Blue Note, Milan, Italy 2023
Birmingham Symphony Hall, Birmingham, UK 2023
The Stables, Milton Keynes, UK 2023
Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Cheltenham, UK 2023
Turner Sims, Southampton, UK 2023
Apex Theatre, Bury, UK 2023
BBC Radio 4 ‘Front Row’, London , UK 2023
Duc De Lombardes, Paris, France 2023
with Fraser Urquhart at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, SOHO, London, UK 2023 SOLD OUT!
Minerva Theatre, Chichester, UK 2023
Islay Jazz Festival, Lagavulin, Islay, UK 2022
Scarborough Jazz Festival, Scarborough, UK 2022
BBC Quay Sessions “Live from the Edinburgh FRINGE Festival”, Edinburgh, UK 2022
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, George Square Gardens, Edinburgh, UK 2022
Ronnie Scott’s, Soho, London, UK 2022 SOLD OUT!
Love Supreme Festival, Brighton, UK 2022
Glasgow Jazz Festival, St. Luke’s Cathedral, Glasgow, UK 2022
Netherby Hall, Carlisle, UK 2022
Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Cheltenham, UK 2022
South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Festival, Austin, TX, USA 2022
The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, UK 2021
Ronnie Scott’s, Soho, London, UK 2021 SOLD OUT!
Folklore, London, UK 2021
Limerick Jazz Festival, Limerick City, Ireland 2021
Glasgow Jazz Festival, St. Luke’s Cathedral, Glasgow, UK 2021
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2021
Jazz at the Blue Lamp, Aberdeen, UK 2021
BBC Radio Scotland (LIVE broadcast performance) Glasgow, UK 2021
Celtic Connections Festival, Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, UK 2021
“Playtime!” Concert Series, Edinburgh, UK 2020
London Jazz Festival, 606 Club, Chelsea, UK 2020
Celtic Connections Festival, Oran Mor, Glasgow, UK 2020
Gallus Jazz Festival Edinburgh, UK 2019
Hospitalfield House, Arbroath, UK 2019
Jazz at the Blue Lamp, Aberdeen, UK 2019
606 Club, Chelsea, UK 2018
Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Cheltenham, UK 2018
Glasgow Jazz Festival, Glasgow, UK 2018
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2018
Kirk MacDonald/Virginia MacDonald
The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2022
Jim Mullen
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Assembly Roxy Hall, Edinburgh, UK 2022
Islay Jazz Festival, Lagavulin, Islay, UK 2021
Brian Kellock
Langtoun Jazz Festival, Kirkaldy, UK 2023
Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, UK 2023
The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2023
Satchmo & Duke (with Colin Steele), Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Assembly Roxy, Edinburgh, UK 2022
The Great Jam Sessions, Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2022
Leith Jazz Festival, Malt and Hops, Leith, UK 2022
BBC Jazz Nights from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2019
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival featuring trombonist Rita Payes, Edinburgh, UK 2019
Jazz at the Blue Lamp, Aberdeen, UK 2019
Jazz at Merchant’s House, Glasgow, UK 2018
The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2018, 2019, 2022
Fraser Urquhart
The Jazz Bar, (Monthly Residency) Edinburgh, UK 2022
“Music of Thelonious Monk”, The Blue Arrow, Glasgow, UK 2018
Aberdour Fest, Aberdour, UK 2018
Glasgow Jazz Festival, Glasgow, UK 2018
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2018, 2019
“Swing to Bop”, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2018
“BBC Introducing Series: Jazz Nights at the Quay”, Glasgow, UK 2017
Fraser Smith
‘‘TIP TOP’’ Album Tour
The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2023
Whighams Wine Cellars, Edinburgh, UK 2023
Michael Kanan
The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2020
Whighams Wine Cellars, Edinburgh, UK 2019
Trio Magico
Brasilia, Glasgow University Concert Hall, Glasgow, UK 2023
James Brady’s BRBQ
Brasilia, Glasgow University Concert Hall, Glasgow UK 2023
Paolo Alderighi
Tribute to Erroll Garner, Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Assembly Roxy, Edinburgh, UK 2022
Hetty Kate
The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2022
Enrico Tomasso
Aberdeen Jazz Festival, Carmelite House, Aberdeen, UK 2020
Konrad Wiszniewski
Islay Jazz Festival, Lagavulin, Islay, UK 2021
Euan Stevenson
“Ellington to Evans”, Skye Chamber Music Concert Series, Isle of Skye, UK 2022
Lanark Flower Festival, Lanark, UK 2019
Hospitalfield House, Arbroath, UK 2019
Seonaid Aitken
Grappelli Night 2024 Autumn Tour
Tribute to Stephane Grappelli, Langtoun Jazz Festival
Tribute to Stephane Grappelli, Blue Lamp, Aberdeen, UK 2024
Tribute to Stephane Grappelli, Edinburgh Jazz Festival, 2023
Tribute to Stephane Grappelli, Glasgow Jazz Festival, 2023
Tribute to Stephane Grappelli, Perth Festival of the Arts, 2023
Tribute to Stephane Grappelli, The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh UK 2022
The Gil Scott Heron Songbook
2024 England Autumn Tour
Five night engagement at Edinburgh FRINGE Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2024
The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen, UK 2024
Five night engagement at Edinburgh FRINGE Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2023
Dundee Jazz Festival, Dundee, UK 2022
Five night engagement at Edinburgh FRINGE Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2022
Aberdeen Jazz Festival, The Blue Lamp, Aberdeen, UK 2020
Scottish Jazz Weekend Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2020
Five night engagement at Edinburgh FRINGE Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2019 SOLD OUT!
Five night engagement at Edinburgh FRINGE Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2018 SOLD OUT!
Dundee Jazz Festival 2019 SOLD OUT!
Rose Street Ballroom, Edinburgh, UK 2019
Sam Leak
“Craft of Sound” Tour, The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2020
MERCY! MERCY! MERCY!
Islay Jazz Festival, Lagavulin, Islay, UK 2022
Martin Kershaw
“Tribute to Jerome Kern”, The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2022
“Tribute to Cole Porter”, The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2022
“PLAYTIME!” Concert Series, The Outhouse, Edinburgh, UK 2018
Laura MacDonald
Islay Jazz Festival, Lagavulin, Islay, UK 2022
Brian Molley
‘‘Espiritu do Brasil’’ Tour
Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine, UK 2023
Merchant City, Glasgow, UK 2023
The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2023
The Blue Lamp, Aberdeen, UK 2023
“Tribute to Dexter Gordon”
The Tron Theater, Glasgow, UK 2019
The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2019-2022
The Blue Arrow, Glasgow, UK 2019
Mario Caribé’s BOTECO TRIO
The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2019-2022
“PLAYTIME” Concert Series, The Outhouse, Edinburgh, UK 2019
The Barony, Edinburgh, UK 2019
Boteco Do Brasil, Glasgow, UK 2018-2019
Mario Caribé’s FRET
The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2019-2022
The Blue Arrow, Glasgow, UK 2019
Mario Caribé’s Crusader’s Time Machine
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2023
The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2019
Louise Dodds
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival: Autumn Series, St. Bride’s Center, Edinburgh, UK 2022
Linlithgow Jazz Club, Linlithgow, UK 2022
The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK August 2022
“The Story Needs an Ending” Tour, The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2022
Dean Stockdale
The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2018
Whighams Wine Cellars, Edinburgh, UK 2018, 2019
Rachel Lightbody
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival ‘Legends’, Assembly Roxy Hall, Edinburgh, UK 2021
Bird n Diz-A Tribute to Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker
Five night engagement at the Edinburgh FRINGE Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2023
The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2022
Five night engagement at the Edinburgh FRINGE Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2022
The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2022
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival ‘Legends’, Assembly Roxy Hall, Edinburgh, UK 2021
Aberdeen Jazz Festival, The Blue Lamp 2020
Big Girls Don’t Cry: The Ultimate Tribute to Frankie Valli
Beach Ballroom, Aberdeen, UK 2022
Caird Hall, Dundee, UK 2022
Perth Concert Hall, Perth, UK 2022
Sweet Caroline: The Ultimate Tribute to Neil Diamond
Memorial Hall, Lanark, UK 2022
Beacon Arts Centre, Greenock, UK 2022
Whitehall Theatre, Dundee, UK 2022
Tivoli Theater, Aberdeen, UK 2022
Rothes Halls, Glenrothes, UK 2022
Frankly Sinatra
Whitehall Theatre, Dundee, UK 2019
The Rat Pack
The Brunton Theatre, Musselburgh, UK 2019
Colin Steele Sextet
The Blue Lamp, Aberdeen, UK 2024
Dundee Jazz Festival, Dundee, UK 2024
The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2024
Hospitalfield House, Arbroath, UK 2023
Colin Steele’s: Tribute to Miles Davis
Five night engagement at the Edinburgh FRINGE Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2024
Five night engagement at the Edinburgh FRINGE Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2023
Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2019
Dunoon Jazz Festival, Dunoon, UK 2019
Meerkat Parade
The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh, UK 2019 UK TOUR
The Blue Arrow, Glasgow, UK 2019 UK TOUR
The Globe, Newcastle, UK 2019 UK TOUR
Eyemouth Hippodrome, UK 2019 UK TOUR
Aberdour Fest, Aberdour, UK 2018
Callander Jazz Festival, Callander, UK 2017
Gordon MacNeil/Malcolm MacFarlane: SOULBOOK
Dundee Jazz Festival, Dundee, UK 2019
SWING, Glasgow, UK 2018-2020
Alison Affleck
“Billie Holiday Songbook”, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2022
“Queens of Swing”, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2022
Scottish Jazz Weekend Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2020
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2018, 2019
Crail Festival, Crail, UK 2019
Almost Blue Festival, Dundee, UK 2018, 2019
Dundee Jazz Festival, Dundee, UK 2018, 2019
Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2018, 2019
Hospitalfield House, Arbroath, UK 2019
Rita Payes
Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival, Edinburgh, UK 2018
Barbara Raimondi: Scotland Tour
Brig Below, Edinburgh, UK 2018
The Blue Arrow, Glasgow, UK 2018
Max Popp Quartet
BBC Biggest Weekend Fringe, Perth, UK 2018
Colin Black
With Helena Kay, Aberdeen Jazz Festival, Aberdeen, UK 2019
Aberdeen Jazz Festival, Aberdeen, UK 2018
Humble Organisms
Jazz Showcase, Chicago, Illinois 2014
Coast Guard Festival, Grand Haven, Michigan 2012
House Pub, St. Charles, Illinois 2011-2014 (month residency)
Even Flow, Geneva, Illinois 2012-2013
John McLean/Alison Ruble (Origin Records)
Nighttown, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, 2011
Trio’s, South Bend, Indiana, USA 2011
Pete Miller’s, Evanston, Illinois, USA 2011
Frank Catalano (Columbia Records)
Andy’s Jazz Club, Chicago, Illinois, USA 2011
House Pub, St. Charles, Illinois, USA 2011
Shirley King (Daughter of B.B. King)
Sycamore Summer Nights, Sycamore, Illinois, USA 2007
For Your Eyes Only (Rave Song Records)
The House of Blues, Chicago, Illinois, USA 2007
Vans Warped Tour, Hollywood Casino Amphitheater Chicago, Illinois, USA 2007