Mike 'Maz' Maher is best known for his role in the genre bending group Snarky Puppy. He has won three Grammy awards as a member of the group, toured extensively and written a few of the groups popular compositions. He has also performed and/or recorded with David Crosby, John Scofield, Soulive, Medeski Martin Wood, Karl Denson, Umphrey's McGee, Railroad Earth, Nigel Hall, Marco Benevento, Lucy Woodward, Becca Stevens, Diane Birch and many more.
Mike's approach to trumpet is rooted in jazz but distinctly modern. His use of effects pedals has pushed the sound of the trumpet into the 21st century and set him apart from many others in sound and approach. "I still love playing an unaffected horn as much as anything, but there is a portion of my musical identity and heritage that I can only express through the use of effects pedals."
He grew up in Milwaukee and started playing trumpet at age 8. Mike earned a bachelor's degree in jazz with a trumpet concentration from the University of North Texas where he performed with the One O'clock Lab Band, The Zebras and the Jazz Singers (as a singer). He has taught extensively in private lessons, workshops and clinics at institutions like the Amsterdam Conservatory, Marietta College and Humber College, to name a few.
