Maxx McGathey is a Chicago-based pianist, composer, music director, band leader and educator. His projects include the retro-horror-infused “doom funk” band Gramps The Vamp, the orchestral spaghetti-western themed project Dark Canyon, and his new 11-piece noir-jazz composing project which performs as the Maxx McGathey Orchestra. Also a film composer, Maxx has written and performed 6 feature-length live film scores for clients like WBEZ, The Music Box Theater and the Chicago Park District’s “Movies in the Parks”. In addition to his original music, Maxx loves playing classic jazz standards in the "stride piano" style, appearing as a resident performer every summer at Yellowstone National Park's historic Old Faithful Inn. Maxx is also a prolific collaborator, having performed or recorded with Chicago acts like Divino Niño, V.V. Lightbody, Ric Wilson, David Quinn, and Secret Colours (to name a few). Maxx’s grants and awards include a 2023 Illinois Arts Council Grant for recording, a 2021 composer’s residency at I-Park Foundation in Connecticut, and a 2020 grant for recording from DCASE (the City of Chicago’s Cultural Affairs Department). Maxx is also a passionate educator, having introduced dozens of students to the piano.