Scott Macmillan: Compositions

Since meeting in 1995, Scott Macmillan and Brian Doyle have been blending their musical intuitions in ever fresh and innovative ways. Their performances are captivating, creating an exciting and always expanding musical experience. Throwing caution to the wind, these two guitar wizards mesmerize with remarkable imaginative guitar interplay transporting their audiences from the Highlands to the Blues and just about everywhere in-between!

Winner of the 1998 ECMA Instrumentalist of the Year, for Scott Macmillan Presents the Minnie Sessions Vol. 1. The recording features Macmillan and Doyle on 4 cuts; Minnie Adams House Reel, "Caterer's Request", "Cameron Side Rd" and "Romper River", with Scott and Brian co-writing the later 2 songs.

Individually Scott and Brian have full and busy music careers. Their love of music fusion has them increasingly carving out opportunities from their hectic schedules to join forces and expand their convergence of musical minds. Opportunities to perform together have multiplied to include a growing performance history from 1996 to the present.

Scott Macmillan and Brian Doyle Performance History 1996- 2006
(Includes multiple performances in each location).

Dalhousie University Guitar Concert Series, September 2006
Northumberland Folk, Wallace NS August 2006
Broad Cove Scottish Concert, Soloists and Guitar Summit, Cape Breton; 1996-2006
Bankhead Pub, Inverness Cape Breton; 2003/04/05/06
Normaway Inn, Margaree, Cape Breton; 1996 through to 06
Red Shoe Pub, Mabou; Cape Breton; 1996 through to 06
Tall and Small Café, Antigonish 2005/06
Le Caravanne
du Nord; Acadian Youth Development and Nova Scotia Tour, 05/2006
Gala show, festival L’Éscouette, Chéticamp, 2005
Union Street Café, Berwick, 2005
Inverness Centre of the Arts, Inverness, Cape Breton; 2003/04/05
Celtic Colours Festival Guitar Summit, Cape Breton; 2004/1997
Atlantic Jazz Festival, Halifax; 2003

Scott Macmillan Presents: The Minnie Sessions Vol. 1, 1996
Scott Macmillan and Brian Doyle feature guitarists on this ECMA winning recording Solo Guitarist; co-writing "Cameron Side Rd" and "Romper River" with Macmillan

Born in Halifax, Scott Macmillan enjoys a stellar reputation in Nova Scotia and abroad for his unusual versatility working in the fields of classical, pop, jazz, blues and Celtic music. He is equally at home on the podium, in the studio or behind a guitar. Scott is in great demand as a conductor, performer, composer/arranger and producer.

Working professionally for more than 30 years Macmillan has played an integral role in widening the audience for the music of Atlantic Canada both nationally and internationally. His musical collaborations have contributed significantly to the exploding Atlantic pop music scene since the mid-l980’s. Macmillan was acknowledged by Rita MacNeil at the 2005 ECMA Awards as an integral contributor to her success, Scott has played an equally pivotal role in the rise of the Rankin Family Band and the Nova Scotia Mass Choir.

An exceptional guitarist, Scott is a multiple ECMA (East Coast Music Award) winner, for his recordings with the innovative group Puirt a Baroque, “Bach Meets Cape Breton” and also for his own collaborative recordings “The Minnie Sessions Volumes 1, 2, & 3” and the “MacKinnon's Brook Suite”, which he composed for Ian MacKinnon and Symphony Nova Scotia (SNS).

Through the years Scott has received a number of awards from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Nova Scotia Arts Partnership, most recently receiving a creation grant from the NSAP to compose new music for his latest creative venture, a 12-piece jazz ensemble, "Scott 'n the Rocks", a creative collective providing opportunities for musical expression and exploration through composition and improvisational performances.

Macmillan’s unique innovative and creative talent to explore music's vast mosaic makes him an exhilarating and energetic musical force whose performances are always fresh.

Le Grand Cercle en direct 2006, Paul Gallant/Scott Macmillan/co-producer/arranger orchestrations, 2006
Rita MacNeil; Christmas At Home co-produced with Rita MacNeil; 2002
**MacKinnon's Brook Suite, with Symphony Nova Scotia and Ian McKinnon conductor/composer; 2001
Natalie MacMaster; In My Hands string quartet arrangement of a Slip Jig; 1999
Rita MacNeil & Vancouver Symphony Orchestra; On a Personal Note; conductor/arranger/guitarist; 1999
**Scott Macmillan Presents: The Minnie Sessions Vol. **1, *2 & *3 composer/co-producer/guitarist; 96/97/98
Bernard Felix: Carrying on the Tradition; co-producer/arranger/ guitarist; December 1997
Rita MacNeil; Music of a Thousand Nights; co-producer/arranger/ guitarist; 1997
Heather, Cookie and Raylene Rankin; Do You Hear; arranger/ guitarist; 1997
Rita MacNeil; Christmas Recording, Joyful Sounds; co-producer/arranger/ guitarist; 1996
The Rankin Family; The Collection; location producer in Ireland with Chieftains; 1996
Here and Now; Canada Council, 50 years of the UN: Benedictus - Celtic Mass for the Sea; 1996
Stan Rogers, An East Coast Tribute Vol. 1 &Vol. 2; music director;/performer; 1995/96
The Rankin Family; Endless Seasons; Pre production of 4th album; 1995
Ashley MacIsaac; Hi, How Are You Today?; arrangement for Ashley & Quartetto Gelato; 1995
Photograph; Doris Mason; Producer/performer; 1995
Ashley MacIsaac & Scott Macmillan; Cape Breton Christmas; producer/ guitarist; 2001/1993
*Celtic Mass for the Sea; Mass; Choir, Celtic ensemble & strings, composer/arranger; 1993
OCTET: Songs of the Cape; composer/arranger/ guitarist; 1986, re-released 1992
GUITAR SOULS: LIVE Dave MacIsaac and Scott Macmillan; co-producer/performer; 1993
Rankin Family: Fare Thee Well; pre-production consultation; Fall 1990;
Rankin Family: 1st album; pre-production consultation; 1989
Rita MacNeil: Flying on your Own; arranger/performer; 1986
Rita MacNeil: Not What I Seem; arranger/performer; 1982

Guitarist Brian Doyle grew up in Margaree Forks Cape Breton. He was born into the Celtic Music scene of pianos, fiddles, bagpipes and step dancers that were a part of his everyday life. Performing with countless Cape Breton greats including Natalie MacMaster, Ashley MacIsaac, Buddy MacMaster, Howie MacDonald, Cameron Chisholm Maybelle Chisholm to list just a few.

On Stage since the age of 14, Doyle has successfully covered the Rock and Roll and bluegrass scene, later he adding Celtic Guitar to the mix. With 30 years of music performance under his belt, Brian’s ability to adapt to just about any style has him touring Canada, the US, Europe and the UK repeatedly. He has opened for acts like Anne Murray, Trooper, Edith Butler; performed with Grammy Winner, Alison Brown, shared the stage with Chris DeBurg, Sass Jordon among many others.

Brian has been a regular member of the legendary Guitar Summit concerts at Celtic Colours Festival and the highly anticipated Guitar Summit portion of the annual Broad Cove Scottish Concert both in Cape Breton. Guitarist for one of Cape Breton’s longest performing and ever-popular groups “The Phantoms”, he is also a current member of “Groupe Le Lievre”; an award winning Acadian folk group based in Chéticamp. In the 1990’s Brian founded the successful rock and ECMA nominated band “Greyloch” which toured throughout Nova Scotia and New England. In 2004 Doyle was part of the “Once in a Blue Moon Concert” along with Blue Rodeo and Jimmy Rankin.

In the late 90’s, Doyle performed with the Brooks Diamond Production, “Rhythms of Nova Scotia” and guitarist with “Drum” during the “Tall Ship” performances in 2000 and again in 2006 for “Drum’s” Western Canadian Tour. Since 2000, Doyle has participated on a number of NS Tourism and MIANS promotional tours to Boston and California, accompanying such NS artists as Natalie MacMaster, Beoloch, Dave Gunning, Chris MacFarlane, Lennie Gallant, Vishten and more East Coast performers.

In demand as guitar instructor, Brian has been teaching annually at the Ceilidh Trail School Music in Inverness Cape Breton since its inception. In recent years, through the Conseil des arts de Chéticamp, Brian has been busy teaching young guitarists from the Chéticamp Region and performing in the house band for “Le Caravanne du Nord”, a training ground for Acadian youth across NS in 2005/2006.

Brian is happily married, and father of two he lives in Margaree Forks Cape Breton.

1- J’Étions Les Best; Co-Producer, Mix & Mastering/Electric/Acoustic Guitar
2- Okazoo; Co-Producer, Mix & Mastering/Electric/Acoustic Guitar
3- **Scott Macmillan Presents: The Minnie Sessions Vol. **1, Solo Guitarist; co-writing "Cameron Side Rd" and "Romper River" with Macmillan
4- *Greyloch, Self-titled recording; Composer/Arranger, Co-engineer, Mix and Mastering, Electric/Acoustic Guitar all tracks; Co-design for recording graphics.
5- Après si Longtemps, Group LeLeievre; Winner of the Butler Award; Arranger Electric/Acoustic guitar
6- Pure Celtic Hearts – Vol. 1 & 2, Co-producer/Acoustic Guitar; Maybelle Chisholm-McQueen, Brain Doyle, Cameron Chisholm and Joe Lefort
7- Ceilidh Trail Music, a compilation CD/ Smithsonian Institute, Acoustic Guitar accompaniment with Richard Wood and Brenda Stubbart.
8- Fiddle Tunes, Dougie MacDonald, Engineer/Acoustic Guitar
9- A Minor, Dougie MacDonald, Electric/Acoustic Guitar, Guitar arrangements
10- All Acoustic, Sean Murphy, Arrangements, Guitars, Mix and Mastering
11- Kimberly Fraser, title TBA, Guitar and Guitar Arrangements
12- Chris Crowely; title TBA, Guitar and Guitar Arrangements
13- “Le Swing de Suete”, Soundtrack for Dance Production; Electric/Acoustic Guitar

Al Schackman spent about 40 years as Nina Simone's guitarist and music director. Performing and recording with her since the 1960’s. He's a fantastic guitarist, as well as a bassist and vibraphonist. Throughout most of her career guitarist and musical director, Al Schackman and percussionist Leopoldo Flemming accompanied Nina Simone. Prior that he was guitarist with Harry Belefonte.

A major feature of the 50th Newport Jazz Festival in 2004 an evening celebrating Nina Simone featuring two of her bands led by Al with special guests Tracy Chapman, Oscar Brown, Jr., Floetry, Lizz Wright, James “Blood” Ulmer with Vernon Reid, Simone and others. Al is featured on the 2001 Buddha Records recording, ‘The Long Road To Freedom’, produced by Harry Belafonte, David Belafonte, Albert C. Pryor and Leonard dePaur; which was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Awards for Best Boxed Recording Package, for Best Album Notes and for Best Historical Album.

2009 Schedule

Guitar wizards Scott Macmillan and Brian Doyle are at it again for some musical fun and frolic spanning from Celtic to Blues and just about anything in between!

Come and check them out... Updates coming soon....

Sep 18 -

Brian Doyle and Scott Macmillan at the Barn, Normaway Inn, Margaree (8pm)
These two Guitar Wizards will make a rare summer appearance together this weekend only at the The Barn. Come and be part of their musical fun and frolic as they spur each other on playing music spanning from Celtic to Blues and just about anything in between!