Stu MacAskie is known to be one of New Mexico’s busiest and most successful jazz musicians. He’s also an accomplished composer, arranger, producer and band leader with performing, teaching, writing, and recording talents that are in constant demand. From 1989 until his move to New Mexico in 1997, he was an active component in New York’s jazz circle—playing acoustic piano and electronic keyboards with equal authority.

Born and raised in Michigan, Stu MacAskie attended Indiana University, where in 1987 he received his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies. His years at IU included private study with David Baker and Joseph Rezits, and upon graduation, he landed the prestigious Performer's Certificate. Fresh out of college, MacAskie became a touring musician, first with the Ringling Bros. Circus, then with the Artie Shaw Orchestra.

Stu settled in New York City in 1989, were he was quickly accepted into the jazz community. Within a few short years his name was gracing the marquees of many of Manhattan's most popular jazz rooms including Fat Tuesday's, Visione's, The Squire and Augie's. Elsewhere in New York he performed at the Rainbow Room, Sardi's, Windows on the World, Tavern on the Green, The Waldorf-Astoria, Don't Tell Mama, S.O.B.'s, The Lone Star and Manny's Car Wash.

Although his jazz, R&B, pop, show, studio and production jobs echo a style that is decidedly rooted in the great jazz tradition, Stu’s approach to playing reflects a wide variety of musical influences. His résumé includes production work with Blank Productions—a major East Coast studio where he worked on sound design, synth and rhythm arrangements. Other production credits include the composition and production of music for commercial videos and jingles, as well as contributions to a number of local projects which continue to serve as a showcase of his broad range.

Though his first love is performance, teaching also plays a significant and ongoing role in Stu MacAskie's career. An impressive number of professional musicians and intermediate music students have shared his bench to learn the crafts of piano, jazz improvisation, and contemporary music technologies. He has taught applied jazz piano at the University of New Mexico since 2000 and maintains a busy private studio as well. Stu has been contracted to serve as a clinician for high school jazz bands and has considerable experience teaching in classroom settings as well. In addition, he has presented several adult lecture series on jazz history and jazz piano for the New Mexico Jazz Workshop.

His busy schedule finds him performing up and down the Rio Grande Valley with occasional guest spots in Phoenix and Los Angeles. In Albuquerque, he has appeared at The Outpost Performance Space, Summerfest, Anderson Valley Vineyards, The Martini Grill, The Cooperage, and at every major hotel in town. In Santa Fe, he has performed at The Eldorado Hotel, Vanessie and El Farol, and Stu’s Taos credits include work at TheTaos Inn and El Monte Sagrado. He’s also been a contributor on numerous recording projects at New Mexico’s top music studios, and for the past seven years, he’s served as the Music Director for Albuquerque’s First Church of Religious Science.

Stu MacAskie has performed with a number of world-class jazz artists incuding Frank Morgan, Bill Watrous, Kevin Mahogoney, Chris Calloway, and New York Voices. He has also performed with pop stars Patti Page, Regis Philbin, John Davidson, Little Anthony & The Imperials, The Inkspots, The Platters, and Hassan Hakmoun. His most recent release is a collection of jazz standards, Piano Solos.