Max Haymer is a Grammy-Nominated and Internationally Renowned Pianist. Known for his powerful approach to the piano, as well as his dynamic compositions and arrangements, Haymer’s style has been often referred to as “Athletic Jazz.” Combining the Jazz and Songbook tradition with Modern Jazz and Afro-Cuban influences, Haymer gives a fresh and unique take on the American artform.
Haymer is a SouthArts Jazz Roads winner, and has won 2nd prizes at the Montreux Jazz Festival Solo Piano Competition and the Great American Jazz Piano Competition in Jacksonville Florida, and was a finalist in the Horace Silver Piano Competition and UWF Phillips Jazz Piano Competition. He was also named a Rising Star by the Orange County Performing Arts Center.
Haymer currently is the pianist and lead arranger for Jazz Vocal Icon, Jane Monheit. Haymer spent most of 2020 performing remote shows with Monheit, cultivating a new musical relationship that has blossomed into a stellar partnership. This partnership has now blossomed into duo and quartet shows that have been performed around the world in Mumbai, Seoul, London, Milan, Sao Paulo, Munich, Hamburg, and at numerous national venues such as Blue Note Hawaii, SMOKE, Birdland, Blues Alley, Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Yoshi’s Oakland, SF Jazz, Jazz TX, LIBRETTO, Jazz Alley, and the Purple Room Palm Springs. Haymer played and arranged for Monheit’s last 2 albums, The Merriest and JANE MONHEIT.
From 2015-2025, Haymer was the touring pianist and music director for Grammy Award Winner and Kennedy Center Honoree, Arturo Sandoval, playing at such places as the Blue Note NYC/Tokyo/Beijing, Newport Jazz Festival, Vancouver Jazz Festival, Teatro Opera de Buenos Aires, Sala Sao Paolo, Focsani Blues Fest, Gazarte Athens, Detroit Jazz Festival, Ronnie Scott’s, Jazz Alley, Blues Alley, Yoshi’s Oakland, and Walt Disney Concert Hall. Haymer was the featured pianist on Arturo Sandoval’s scores for Clint Eastwood’s films, The Mule and Richard Jewell. Haymer is also the pianist on Sandoval’s Grammy-Nominated album, Rhythm & Soul.
Haymer studied with the great LA based pianist Tamir Hendelman through high school and went on to continue his music education at UC Irvine, graduating with Magna Cum Laude honors and a Bachelor of Music degree in 2007. At Irvine, Haymer studied Jazz Performance with Kei Akagi, Darek Oles, Bobby Rodriguez, and the late Sherman Ferguson. During that time, he also studied Musical Theater Direction with Dr. Gary Busby.
Haymer debuted with his trio at the world famous Catalina Bar and Grill in Hollywood at age 19, being one of the youngest headliners this storied club had presented. In 2008, Haymer released his debut album, Pickpocket Witness. The album is comprised entirely of Haymer's original compositions.
Haymer resided in New York City from, 2008-2015, where he has headlined at many NYC venues including Smalls, 55 Bar, Zinc Bar, Puppets, and the Metropolitan Room and also served as Music Director for the Music Theatre of Connecticut.
In 2019, Haymer recorded a 2-night live album at LA’s Sam First Bar, which was later compiled and released as WHIRLWIND: Live at Sam First. The album was released to critical acclaim and has been listened to by audiences in 148 countries. To date, this album is the perfect window to peer into Haymer’s current writing style, playing, and artistry. Since the pandemic, he has been able to and still tours this album with his trio nation-wide.
Haymer has had the pleasure of performing and recording with many amazing artists, including Arturo Sandoval, Jane Monheit, Ivan Lins, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Brian Lynch, Mike Stern, Denise Donatelli. Greg Hutchinson, Bill Holman, Mike Clark, Bob Francheschini, Cindy Blackman, Joel Frahm, John Ellis, Andy Galore, Ernie Andrews, Justo Almario, Munyungo Jackson, Bobby Rodriguez, and Barbara Morrison.