Album Notes

Max Haymer, 22, was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He began his classical piano studies at the age of seven and was introduced to jazz piano at the age of 14. He continued to study both classical and jazz through high school and won numerous awards playing music from Bach to Stravinsky and Copland (who continue to influence his jazz playing). Max was awarded the Bill Green Scholarship from the L.A. Jazz Society in 2002
and was a finalist in the inaugural Horace Silver Piano Competition in 2003. In 2005, Max won second prize in the Montreux Jazz Festival Solo Jazz Piano Competition in Switzerland. Because of this, this past January he was able to participate in a master class with Kenny Werner at IAJE in New York, and perform at "Dizzy's" at Jazz at Lincoln Center. In May 2006, Max was named a Future Star by the Orange County Performing Arts Center receiving a scholarship and a performance at Founder's Hall. Max
just finished his Bachelor of Music degree as a Jazz Performance major at the University of California at Irvine, where he studied piano with Kei Akagi and
worked with Darek Oles, Bobby Rodriguez and Charles Owens. Max has performed with numerous artists such as Ernie Andrews, Justo Almario, Brian Swartz, Munyungo Jackson, and Barbara Morrison. Max has also acted as assistant musical director for the UC Irvine main stage musicals, Kiss Me Kate and Seussical, and was Musical Director for Urinetown the Musical in June 2007 . He continues private studies with Tamir Hendelman in Los Angeles. Max appeared with Dr. Bobby Rodriguez at the Watts Jazz Festival last October, appeared with Concord recording artist Erin Boheme in Orlando, Florida. Max also performed with Dr. Rodriguez at the Luckman Theatre for a "Latin Jazz Christmas." Last year, Max debuted his own trio at Catalina Bar and Grill as a part of their Young Artists series, and was asked to perform there again for Buddy Collette's 85th Birthday.