Born in 1972, Max Ionata is considered one of the major Italian saxophonist on the contemporary jazz scene. Throughout just a few years, he’s been appreciated by critics and audience, succesfully working in Italy and abroad.
Having published more than 70 recordings with national and international artists, he’s very much appreciated all around the world.
He’s leader in several projects and collaborates permanently with prestigious artists. He’s been playing in the most popular jazz clubs and festivals, all over the world working with great musicians such as: Robin Eubanks, Reuben Rogers, Clarence Penn, Greg Hutchinson, Lenny White, Billy Hart, Alvin Queen, Joe Locke, Steve Grossman, Ali Jackson, Mike Stern, Bob Mintzer, Bob Franceschini, Hiram Bullock, Joel Frahm, Miles Griffith, Anthony Pinciotti, and with the Italians Dino Piana, Enrico Rava, Roberto Gatto, Dado Moroni, Stefano Di Battista, Gegè Telesforo, Giovanni Tommaso, Flavio Boltro, Furio Di Castri, Fabrizio Bosso, Enrico Pierannunzi, Mario Biondi, Ornella Vanoni, Sergio Cammariere, Renzo Arbore and many others.
Max has performed in Japan, China, Russia, Netherlands, England, France, Poland, Spain, Portugal, Serbia, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Perù and United States.
Among his international awards:
Award “Massimo Urbani” for woodwinds, 2000
First prize at “Baronissi” national jazz contest, 2000
Audience award at “Tramplin Jazz D’Avignon” international contest, France, 2002
“JAZZIT AWARD” as best Italian tenor saxophonist, 2012
“JAZZIT AWARD” as best Italian tenor saxophonist, 2013
The popular magazine Jazzlife tributed to him a wide article with interview in the special edition “Jazz horn 2010”, addressing him as “a saxophonist who opened new boundaries in jazz”.
We designed a special custom tenor mouthpiece for Max Ionata, click on the picture in order to learn more about it:
