Maple bends fairly easily. Figured maple "kinks" even more easily. When bending use a blanket and bending slats to support the wood. I like to bend maple a bit thicker than the rosewoods to have some wood available to sand the sides smooth after bending.
Most of the curly maple is "soft" maple (red maple, silver maple, etc.). Not necessarily soft like "swamp" maple (light weight soft maples grown in wet environments), it is a little easier to work with than "hard" maples (sugar maples).
As Filippo mentioned the maple (and also the spruce) will darken over time, so watch out where the huskies go....
