Andre Maaker (9.6.1980) is versatile acclaimed musician in Estonia. He is a skilful and peculiar guitarist, composer and arranger, also very capable in sound engineering. Maaker began guitar studies under the guidance of highly valued jazz guitarist and teacher Tiit Paulus. Large possibilities and ways of expression of the instrument has followed him ever since, at different times being influenced by jazz, rock, folk, pop, electronic and classical music.
As a guitarist he is comfortable in genres from classical chamber music and free improvisation to folk and jazz settings. Currently he is mostly keen on composing and arranging music. On the other hand he's enjoying flirting his improvising vibes with classical music.
Recent works as a composer include pieces for saxophone orchestra, guitar quintet, string quartet, children choirs and solo guitar.
He has collaborated both on stage and in studio with many acclaimed jazz musicians in Estonia – Kadri Voorand, Villu Veski, Tiit Kalluste, Oleg Pissarenko, Sofia Rubina, Raivo Tafenau, Ain Agan, Lembit Saarsalu among others. Also there have been interesting international works with Deniss Pashkevich, Daniel "Pipi" Piazzolla, Ian Ethan Case, Laima Jansone, Saulius Petreikis, Teemu Viinikainen, Mārcis Auziņš, Jānis Aišpurs and Ned Ferm to name some.
Andre Maaker has released three solo guitar albums (latest from 2019) and his playing can be heard on more than 30 albums.
Maaker has graduated University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy in 2018 (BA in Humanities) and also has worked there as a guitar, ensemble and improvisation lecturer.