Max Light is a guitarist based in Brooklyn, NY. He won 2nd place in the 2019 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Guitar Competition, judged by Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Lionel Loueke etc. His sophomore recording as a leader, “Henceforth” was released June 15 2023 on Steeplechase Records. The album features Noah Preminger, Dan Weiss and Kim Cass. The New York City Jazz Record called the album “Stunning” and declared Light “One of the most promising young guitarists to arrive on the scene in recent years.” Jazztrail said “Max Light is a talented instrumentalist and composer to follow closely, and this well-planned album doesn’t disappoint.” His debut trio recording, "Herplusme," was released February 14, 2020 on Red Piano Records, featuring Simon Willson and Matt Honor. UKVibe gave the album 4/5 and said “Herplusme gives the guitarist an excellent platform to showcase his talents and with superb interaction and support from Honor and Willson. The trio work intuitively well together, performing well and showing great promise throughout this recording. Most recently, Light and pianist Julian Shore released “Duo” on July 7, 2023 and embarked on a release tour all over Japan. Critic Elis Ragina of Jazz The New Chapter in Tokyo wrote “An authentic style within an authentic framework…Hearing it live was amazing.”
Max has performed and recorded with Noah Preminger, Christian Sands, Donny McCaslin, Jeremy Dutton, Kaisa Maensivu, Jason Palmer, Jon Gordon, John Ellis, Dan Weiss, Colin Stranahan, Kevin Sun among others. He is a regular collaborator with Downbeat Rising Star tenor saxophonist Noah Preminger. The duo released an album on Steeplechase in March 2022 entitled “Songs We Love.” He appeared on Preminger’s 2019 album "Genuinity" (Criss Cross) and Preminger’s 2020 album "Contemptment" (Steeplechase) alongside Kim Cass and Dan Weiss. This quartet toured Europe in Fall 2021. He appeared on Jason Palmer’s seminal 2018 recording "Live at Wally’s Jazz Club: Volume 1-2" (Steeplechase), and more recently on Yong Lee’s 2021 album "Touch" alongside Walter Smith III. He most recently appeared on Kevin Sun’s 2021 release "<3 Bird" (Endectomorph).
Max is from the Washington DC area, now living in New York City. He lived in Boston for 6 years where he received his Bachelor’s Degree at New England Conservatory and performed every Friday and Saturday at the legendary Wally’s Jazz Cafe with world renowned trumpeter Jason Palmer. He received his Master’s Degree from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College. He regularly performs as an artist in residence at Hotel 7132 in Vals, Switzerland through Newvelle Records. Max was an instructor at the Washington DC Jazz Academy of Music from 2013-2016 and regularly teaches private lessons in New York City and virtually.
Available Recordings:
Max Light, Evan Main, MathiasJensen, Steven Crammer “Bramble” (2023)
Christian Sands “Christmas Stories” (Mack Avenue 2023)
Daryl Gott “Aperture” (2023)
Max Light and Julian Shore “Duo” (2023)
Max Light “Henceforth” (Steeplechase 2023)
Kaisa Mäensivu “Taking Shape” (Greenleaf 2023)
Ryan Sands “Standing on the Edge of Tomorrow” (2022)
Noah Preminger and Max Light “Songs We Love” (Steeplechase 2022)
”I Expect You To Die 2” Video Game Soundtrack (Schell Games 2021)
Kevin Sun “<3 Bird” (Endectomorph 2021)
Yong Lee “Touch” (2021)
Jonathan Parker “The Remainder” (One Trick Dog 2020)
Noah Preminger “Contemptment” (Steeplechase 2020)
Max Light Trio “Herplusme” (Red Piano Records 2020)
Noah Preminger “Afterlife” (Criss Cross 2019)
Jason Palmer “At Wally’s Volume 1 &2” (Steeplechase 2018)
Hamburger/Pappalardo/Light “Yarns” (2018)
Chris McCarthy “Sonder” (Red Piano Records 2017)
Beau D’ver “Mors Code” (2016)
Paul Bloom “The Dr. Seuss Project” (2012)