Max Keenleyside
Pianist Max Keenlyside is also a composer, music engraver, and piano technician. From the age of ten, he has written and performed music in ragtime, stride, and classical styles, gaining a reputation as a top young artist in his field.
In 2009, Max represented Prince Edward Island in the National Artist’s Program, held in the conjunction with the Canada Games. A favourite at jazz and ragtime events around the world, he has headlined several times at the Scott Joplin, West Coast Ragtime, and Blind Boone festivals.
Max is especially lauded for his dazzling stride and traditional jazz piano chops. These demanding, two-handed and rich piano styles were crafted by the likes of “Jelly Roll” Morton, Fats Waller, and James P. Johnson; Max plays them all with a stylistic flair and an ear for detail.
Having composed since elementary school, several of Max’s works have garnered critical acclaim. He wrote the concert march processional music for his own high school graduation, and his “Northern Lights Rag” has become a fixture on the ragtime scene. In 2014, he completed a major work, Symphony No. 1, Op. 27 for orchestra. Max carries his love for ensemble music-making into rehearsals with the Holland College Community Concert band in which he’s played trombone since 2012.
In addition to festivals, Max regularly concertizes and has presented a “Studio H Session” for a live audience on CBC Radio. His debut release, KeenlyStride, was issued in 2010 on the Rivermont label. This was followed by Mostly Max in 2012, featuring a plethora of Max’s original compositions alongside music written by his heroes. His latest release is Invincible Syncopations. Debuted in 2017, this album features the piano solo works of Vincent Matthew Johnson.
