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What do Eric Clapton and Jerry Holland have in common? Or for that matter Buddy Guy and Buddy MacMaster? They have the Celtic Blues Breaking guitar mastery of two of the world's best pickers, Scott Macmillan and Dave MacIsaac! Dave MacIsaac, born in 1955, son of Alex Dan and Frances MacIsaac was raised on Drummond Court in the north end of Halifax NS, where he was weaned on Cape Breton fiddle accompanying his father on guitar. As a young teenager Dave delved into the blues under such great guitar influences as Freddie King and Jeff Beck. Meanwhile on Edward Street, in the south end of Halifax, Scott Macmillan, also born in 1955, was himself a budding guitarist. Scott was surrounded by the musical influences of his older brothers John and Mark, both the music they listened to and the music they played.
After hearing rumours about each other as "those hot young guitarists," they finally met in 1970 in grade 10. It didn't take long for Scott and Dave to discover a musical wavelength and friendship that would keep them coming back to each other no matter where their paths would lead. In the early years they spent countless hours exchanging guitar licks and spurring each other on. On a professional level they began their special brand of rockin' blues interplay in ACME Blues Band, 1974-76. Today, Dave is widely sought after as a celtic guitarist, violinist, and session picker extraordinaire. It is not uncommon for Dave to be flying off to Ireland or Washington DC, accompanying the fiddle greats of Cape Breton Island, then to come home to Halifax and be off again this time to a studio or on a tour to add his irrepressible talents as a sideman and session player.
Scott, on the other hand, has been driven by a need to compose. His original music has taken him from the Montreal Jazz Festival to the concert halls with Symphony Nova Scotia. While making his home in Halifax, Scott's unique gift for understanding musical cultures and traditions has led him into many worlds. He has arranged music for and has worked with Dr. Helen Creighton, the Acadians, the Blacks of Nova Scotia, the Cape Bretoners and in the Celtic Traditions. Scott and Dave have worked together whenever producers and budgets have allowed. Over the last 23 years they have been heard separately and together on radio, television, in concert halls, on film, and up and down the Eastern Seaboard on NS tourism promotions. Mostly though, Scott and Dave have honed their special music in the wee hours of the morning and in late afternoons sessions, where without the restraints of "the gig," they could play a free fall of guitar improvisation and interplay. Scott's love of jazz and blues and Dave's love of blues, rock and celtic, and their mutual admiration for each other have been the cornerstone of this recording. From the heart of Chicago Blues to the depths of Cape Breton fiddle music, Scott Macmillan and Dave MacIsaac are GUITAR SOULS. GUITAR SOULS also features the wonderful playing skills of Danny Parker on bass, and Tom Roach on drums, whose creative energies bring out that extra excitement.
Scott and Dave would like to give a special thanks to Andy Gillis who served as master of ceremonies during the "Live at the Flamingo Café and Lounge" recording, Febuary 4, 5, and 6 and added his own special brand of blues harp to the three performances. Also thanks to Steve Dooks, Sheri Jones, Danny Mombourquette, Stephen Osler, Halifax City Music Dept. and Jeff Rudderham. Intruments used by Scott and Dave on GUITAR SOULS: Scott:
Dave:
Recorded live at the Flamingo Café and Lounge, Febuary 4, 5, and
6, 1993
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