About
About Max Holm
Max Holm is a jazz pianist, composer, producer, arranger, author and educator. He has performed hundreds of times across the US and Europe, often with renowned jazz musicians in arenas and famous venues. With his namesake quartet, he’s performed at several jazz festivals on two continents. See Venue list.
Max’s jazz arrangements and recordings of Bach’s Air on the G String and Prelude in C Minor can be heard on Anne Hathaway’s and Jessica Chastain’s film Mothers’ Instinct. Max’s music has been heard by over 131 million people as part of global productions in films, network TV, cable TV, streaming programs, video channels, games, metaverses, and user-generated content.
In May 2026, after a bit of kerfuffle where his reference tracks to the house band were not delivered to them, Max managed to pull a rabbit out of hat and place 2nd in the prestigious Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition, part of the annual Jacksonville Jazz Festival.
He played his song Gran Via (from the Don’t Be A Stranger album) privately for Chick Corea, inspiring Chick to tell Max, “You make that piano sound good! Play that chorus again! ”
Max’s album of neo-classical music for film trailers, IMPASSE, commissioned by Audiosocket Records can be heard on YouTube and available for sync licensing directly from Asx/Audiosocket.
As a prolific composer, Max has amassed a catalog of music of over 400 compositions and counting. Credits for released music can be found on Muso.ai. His Disco catalog showcases his many playlists of non-exclusive ONE-STOP music available for immediate licensing by Music Supervisors. Max is known for high production values, and quick turn-arounds on custom briefs. He provides music for Meta’s many social media platforms and metaverses.
While his niches are jazz and jazz-neo classical fusion, he has composed many works in the neo-classical, Latin, Mediterranean, R&B, pop, hip hop, and even EDM. His music label is Zamlo & Sqank, while his music publishing and production company is Max Holm Music (PRO BMI 3259680). Max Holm’s artist PRO is BMI 550359491.
Max attended the Berklee College of Music as one of the elite handful of Presidential Scholars and was accepted into the prestigious Berklee Global Jazz Institute. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in Professional Music with triple concentrations in performance, composing and production in 2020, summa cum laude. Over the years he’s amassed numerous awards, including Outstanding Jazz Piano Soloist from Downbeat Magazine, Essentially Ellington Competition at Lincoln Center, Yamaha Young Artists Competition, and many more.
Max is a featured performer on the award-winning album The Inside of the Outside with Jeff Coffin, Branford Marsalis, Victor Wooten, Trombone Shorty, et al.
His book Ace Your Sight-Reading Audition! is a favorite among musicians of all ages in the US, UK, Spain, Mexico and Brazil. It is available in English and Spanish, as hardcover, paperback, Kindle and Audiobook. Max’s books are published under his Easy Music Hacks imprint, and his accompanying online school based on his books, is at EasyMusicHacks.com.
Max formerly taught jazz composition/arranging, jazz piano and coached ensembles at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater. Privately, he accepts a very small number of highly motivated adult jazz piano students. He has given master classes in the US and Europe. Max is available to teach master classes on various topics, please use the Contact form on this site.
Max grew up in Stockholm, Sweden, the son of an American digital nomad, genius IQ mother and a Swedish classical violinist father. He is fluent in English and Swedish. Far from having an idyllic childhood, he had to overcome many painful adversities, including severe bullying and abuse. At the age of 13, Max lost half his blood and had a near death experience. 7 blood transfusions from 7 strangers, saved his life and gave him an overwhelming passion for jazz. He gave a TED talk about it.
As a dual citizen, Max is authorized to work in both the US and the European Union.