At twenty-six, jazz saxophonist Max Wild already has a unique musical history to tell. Raised by German parents in Zimbabwe, Max completed his Bachelor of Music at London's Guildhall School of Music. A year later, he was awarded a scholarship to study with Dick Oatts and Bob Mintzer at the Manhattan School of Music in New York, and in June 2004 Max recorded his debut album with guitarist Jesse Lewis, pianist Soren Moller, bassist Fraser Hollins and drummer Obed Calvaire, displaying Max's charismatic approach as a leader, performer, and composer.
Max grew up in an artistic family in the suburbs of Harare, Zimbabwe. Exposed to sunshine and good spirits from an early age African culture became an integral part of his personal development, later becoming a prime influence on his music. His parents being art lovers Max was guided into this direction in the form of drawing and painting, and at six a collaboration with Zimbabwean author Dambudzo Marechera illustrating a series of Marechera's children's stories, became Max's first artistic venture. At twelve, inspired by one of his peers, Max started taking saxophone lessons from Rick van Heerden, one of the few saxophone players in Zimbabwe. Van Heerden, an extremely charismatic musician and unsung hero of Zimbabwean jazz became Max's first mentor, leaving a lasting impression on Max to this day.
A few years down the line, in London, Max was learning from British jazz greats Tim Garland and Julian Arguelles. In 1999 he started his own band, the Max Wild Quartet. A great success, his band took Max to perform throughout the UK with a UK tour in May 2001, supported by Jazz Services and the Musicians' Union. The group appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 1999, and toured to Germany in the same and following years, performing at various venues including Berlin's prestigious A Trane Jazz Club. Max has had his music broadcasted by BBC radio in the UK, as well in Germany, and his group was one of semi-finalists of the Perrier Young Jazz Awards, 2001, in London. Max has appeared with the Guildhall Jazz Orchestra, performing Gil Evans' Porgy and Bess with Randy Brecker at the Barbican Hall, in London, and Gil Evans' Sketches of Spain with Dave Liebman. Max's broad range of musical tastes and skills have allowed him to be part of diverse music collaborations unrelated to jazz. These have included a contemporary classical music project with composers, performers and dancers from London's School of Contemporary Dance, playing principal saxophone in the Guildhall School of Music Sinfonietta, and being involved in a collaboration with a live DJ, performing at London's Rhythm Factory.
Since moving to New York in 2002, Max has been a part of the Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, directed by acclaimed Latin percussionist Bobby Sanabria, with performances at the renowned Birdland jazz club in New York. Max has performed twice at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall (2003 and 2004), appearing as part of the Sound Understanding concerts sponsored by the German International Exchange Service (DAAD). Max also performed for Mayor Bloomberg at Gracie Mansion, in New York.
Since moving to New York Max has been teaching at Wagner Middle School, where he successfully helped initiate the first after-school jazz program. He has performed for various groups of people with needs as well as at hospitals and retirement centres throughout New York. In May 2004 Max became the first recipient of the Manhattan School of Music Outreach Commencement Award, in acknowledgment of his outstanding work in this field.
Musical influences range from John Coltrane and Kenny Wheeler to Zimbabwean pop-icon Oliver Mtukudzi
Max grew up in an artistic family in the suburbs of Harare, Zimbabwe. Exposed to sunshine and good spirits from an early age African culture became an integral part of his personal development, later becoming a prime influence on his music. His parents being art lovers Max was guided into this direction in the form of drawing and painting, and at six a collaboration with Zimbabwean author Dambudzo Marechera illustrating a series of Marechera's children's stories, became Max's first artistic venture. At twelve, inspired by one of his peers, Max started taking saxophone lessons from Rick van Heerden, one of the few saxophone players in Zimbabwe. Van Heerden, an extremely charismatic musician and unsung hero of Zimbabwean jazz became Max's first mentor, leaving a lasting impression on Max to this day.
A few years down the line, in London, Max was learning from British jazz greats Tim Garland and Julian Arguelles. In 1999 he started his own band, the Max Wild Quartet. A great success, his band took Max to perform throughout the UK with a UK tour in May 2001, supported by Jazz Services and the Musicians' Union. The group appeared at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, 1999, and toured to Germany in the same and following years, performing at various venues including Berlin's prestigious A Trane Jazz Club. Max has had his music broadcasted by BBC radio in the UK, as well in Germany, and his group was one of semi-finalists of the Perrier Young Jazz Awards, 2001, in London. Max has appeared with the Guildhall Jazz Orchestra, performing Gil Evans' Porgy and Bess with Randy Brecker at the Barbican Hall, in London, and Gil Evans' Sketches of Spain with Dave Liebman. Max's broad range of musical tastes and skills have allowed him to be part of diverse music collaborations unrelated to jazz. These have included a contemporary classical music project with composers, performers and dancers from London's School of Contemporary Dance, playing principal saxophone in the Guildhall School of Music Sinfonietta, and being involved in a collaboration with a live DJ, performing at London's Rhythm Factory.
Since moving to New York in 2002, Max has been a part of the Manhattan School of Music Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, directed by acclaimed Latin percussionist Bobby Sanabria, with performances at the renowned Birdland jazz club in New York. Max has performed twice at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall (2003 and 2004), appearing as part of the Sound Understanding concerts sponsored by the German International Exchange Service (DAAD). Max also performed for Mayor Bloomberg at Gracie Mansion, in New York.
Since moving to New York Max has been teaching at Wagner Middle School, where he successfully helped initiate the first after-school jazz program. He has performed for various groups of people with needs as well as at hospitals and retirement centres throughout New York. In May 2004 Max became the first recipient of the Manhattan School of Music Outreach Commencement Award, in acknowledgment of his outstanding work in this field.
Musical influences range from John Coltrane and Kenny Wheeler to Zimbabwean pop-icon Oliver Mtukudzi
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