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Max
began learning the piano at the age of 5 and has performed
piano/keyboards both solo, and in groups since 1981. He was featured
on his first professional recording for (PRT's Birdsnest Records)
with the group ECLYPSE at the age of 15. Max regularly performed with
top function bands including ECLYPSE and CULPEPPER from 1983 onwards
and quickly progressed on to succeed in getting his own instrumental
compositions published by the Chappel/Zomba Recorded Music Library.
In
1993 this all culminated with Max setting up his own production
business with which he began playing and recording professionally as
well teaching piano and keyboards. Over the years Max also studied
cello, saxophone, guitar and piano accordion and continues to play
piano/keyboards, guitar and piano accordion as well as singing.
Max
has worked extensively for educational authorities on Performing Arts
courses, providing workshop facilities and worked with a number of
semi-pro theatre companies on highly artistic projects. He has also
worked professionally in various capacities with many artists such as
BJ Cole (Sting), Guy Evans (Vander Graph Generator), Dana Gillespie
(Peter Cook), Albert Lee (Bill Wyman etc.), Nigel Mazlyn Jones
(Barclay James Harvest, Roy Harper), Richard Sinclair (Caravan),
Sonja Kristina (Curved Air) and Victoria Beebee (Steve Harley) to
name a few.
He
continues to undertake live and studio work, production projects and
teaches keyboards/piano (specialising in the ABRSM Jazz Piano
Syllabus).
Since
'93 Max released five CDs with his own original band 'TANTALUS',
touring extensively throughout the UK as well as performing at clubs
and festivals in France, Germany, Belgium and Holland. He
has also produced several albums of his own original instrumental
music under the name NEW DAWN. These were distributed throughout the UK by Blue Crystal in the early 90s and are currently being remastered for re-release on CD through Max's own label.
In
2002 Max joined Europe's premiere YES tribute band FRAGILE, engaging in
regular touring work including a series of regular shows with celebrated YES and ASIA guitarist STEVE HOWE.
Max has always been a big YES fan and the 5 years of working with FRAGILE, along with the STEVE HOWE shows experience and a new writing project with JON ANDERSON, all served to greatly heighten Max's understanding and appreciation of YES music. Following
FRAGILE's unfortunate demise in late 2007, Max found himself in a situation where he had to continue building on this experience and find a way to continue performing YES music. He moved to set up a new venture called AWAKEN with ex Voyager rhythm section Chris Hook and Johnny Marter along with Robert Illesh and Tom Dawe (formerly of FRAGILE) and Ollie Finn on lead vocals.
Further to all this, in 2007 Max collaborated with ex Marillion frontman FISH, providing keyboard arrangements for 2 tracks on his latest studio album 'The 13th Star'. Max also co-founded a new project called ARTORIUS (celebrating the Arthurian legends) with Gerlinde Hunt along with Colin Masson and Cathy Alexander of the medieval/folk/rock band 'The Morrigan'. The first ARTORIUS CD was launched at Tintagel, Cornwall in August 2007.
In late 2007, Max was also contacted by YES singer JON ANDERSON and is currently working on an exciting writing project with him.
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