Maxwell Friedman
The Future of Neo-Jazz Funk soul fusion
Maxwell Friedman (aka Muhlaika Washington), is living proof that some musicians are indeed “born with it." At 22 years old, Maxwell has already been playing live for 11 years and their ferocious and inspired keyboard playing, tasteful and clever compositions and musical poise and maturity are already becoming truly legendary while their skill, knowledge, taste, phrasing, artistry and professionalism are already on-par with many accomplished players on the national scene who, without hesitation, already call Max their peer.
One of the youngest players to have ever been endorsed by Hammond Organ, Max has already been invited to share the stage with many musical heavy hitters including Karl Denson, George Porter Jr., Lettuce, The New Mastersounds, Skerik, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, The Nth Power, Stanton Moore, ALO, TAUK, Leftover Salmon, Jennifer Hartswick Band, and many more.
Max has also already been an artist-at-large multiple times at West Coast festivals including the legendary High Sierra Music Festival. This emerging young genius’ star continues to rise and perhaps the most impressive work Max has done thus far has been with their own band, MFG aka Maxwell Friedman Group.
Assembling veteran players, many years their senior, including guitarist “Brother Gabe” Johnson and bassist Mark Karwan, and for their current tour, drummer Machado Mijiga, the band delivers what Max likes to call “Inspired Neo-Jazz Funk Soul Fusion”.
MFG is set to release a new EP in Spring 2026 featuring Adam Deitch of Lettuce on drums and they recently toured through with Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe for some West Coast dates.
Specially for Bend Blues Fest, MFG will be playing a special set dedicated to the history of the Blues, from songs of slavery, through delta blues, dixieland, bebop, electric urban blues, funk and modern soul, the blues has many flavors and this is a "chef's dinner" style celebration of one of the most crucial ingredients in modern music, the blues. Don't miss this special set !
