New Scott McGill solo disc "Symptom Imperative" NOW AVAILABLE FOR 2009!!! The disc "FreakZoid" and new book "The Guitar Arpeggio Compendium" also available. Just go here to purchase:
http://www.scottmcgill.com/purchase.cfm
Attention:
We are looking for any visial footage (photographic or video) or audio of Scott McGill from any point in his career (The Hand Farm to the present). If you have any, please contact us at handfarm1@aol.com as we are trying to build up an archive of material.
Thank you,
www.scottmcgill.com
Influences
Rock, Classical, Jazz, Metal, Progressive, Blues, Avant-Garde, World Music.
Sounds Like
John Coltrane through a Mini Moog with effects pedals
Guitarist for McGill/Manring/Stevens (Michael Manring - Bass; Vic Stevens - Drums) Featured in Guitar Player Magazine Feb. 2007.
Proclaimed "The Thinking Man's Yngwie Malmsteen" by celebrated jazz and fusion author/critic Bill Milkowski, Scott McGill has been playing guitar for over twenty five years. His formal training includes a B.M. in Jazz Performance/Composition from Temple University (Summa Cum Laude). For ten years he studied with legendary composer/theoretician Dennis Sandole (teacher of John Coltrane, Pat Martino, and James Moody, among others).
In 1985-86 at the ripe old-age of 19, he was the lead guitarist for RCA recording artist Robert Hazard ("Escalator of Life," "Girls Just Want to Have Fun"). Performances included "Fourth of July on the Parkway" at the Philadelphia Art Museum with Jimmy Page, Joan Jett, and the Beach Boys (800,000 people in attendance). He formed his first group The Hand Farm in 1991 which went on to tour with international recording artists Spock's Beard, Transatlantic, and Maceo Parker. Praise for the first disc "The Hand Farm" (released in 1997) came from Bill Bruford (Yes, King Crimson, U.K.), Wayne Krantz (Steely Dan), Greg Howe (Shrapnel Records), and Jens Johansson (Yngwie Malmsteen, Stratovarius).
McGill became the guitarist for the prog-rock band Finneus Gauge (1997-1999) releasing "More Once More" and "One Inch Of The Fall" to critical acclaim in progressive rock circles and the mainstream press (1997-Guitar World's "Top 10 Prog Bands" and Keyboard Magazine's "Best Of 1997"). Around this time he released his second solo Hand Farm disc "Ripe" on The Laser's Edge label featuring Vic Stevens on drums, Chico Huff on bass, and Demitrios Pappas ..boards. He left Finneus Gauge in 1999 and wrote material for what was to be the first disc with MMS-McGill Manring Stevens.
The first MMS discs "Addition by Subtraction"(produced by Grammy-winning producer Neil Kernon-Brand X, Queensryche, Judas Priest, Nevermore) and double album "Controlled by Radar," were recorded with world renowned bassist Michael Manring and drummer Vic Stevens. Dream Theater/Liquid Tension Experiment keyboardist Jordan Rudess is a prominently featured guest performer on "ABS". These discs were released by Free Electric Sound worldwide-a division of The Laser's Edge. Support of "ABS" included touring in North America with special guest legendary bassist Percy Jones from Brand X . Scott, Michael, and Vic performed at NAMM 2001 in Anaheim, CA to an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response. The band then embarked on a second sucessful tour of the east coast and central U.S. in 2002 to support "CBR".
McGill also kept busy as a teacher, clinician/endorsing artist, and guest soloist on many progressive, fusion, jazz, and prog-metal releases and in 2006, MMS released the critically acclaimed "What We Do" featuring the mixing wizardry of David Torn and liner notes by Bill Milkowski. This is a disc of jazz standards done the MMS way with a bonus disc of live material from their "Addition By Subtraction" Tour in 2001.
The band "FreakZoid" with Scott, bassist Kjell Benner, Bassist/Stick Player Dave Kloss, and drummer/producer Ritchie DeCarlo was created in 2006 and the band's self titled debut disc was released in 2007. Scott also released a disc of fretless guitar material in late September 2006 with Ritchie DeCarlo and bassist Chico Huff entitled "Awareness" and recently new material has been recorded with Ritchie and legendary bassist Percy Jones (Brand X, Tunnels) scheduled for release in early 2009. Special guests include Stick Player Dave Kloss and Warr Guitarist Markus Reuter (Pat Mastelotto). McGill has also finished tracking a solo disc entitled "Symptom Imperative" and a second FreakZoid disc is completed as well.
As a teacher, McGill was Senior Lecturer Of Guitar at The University Of The Arts in Philadelphia and Stockton College in Pomona, NJ. His new guitar instruction book "The Guitar Arpeggio Compendium" has been released and there will be more texts penned by him on the way. He is an endorsing artist for Brian Moore Guitars, Vigier Fretless Guitars, DR Strings, and Seymour Duncan Pickups. He has now taken up a post as Course Leader/Prof BA (Hons) at The Brighton institute Of Modern Music and he, his wife Meredith, and their 2 year old son Declan now reside in Hove, U.K.
Oh I forgot to tell you that I had my first "tour" experience. Well I went to see Dir en grey on the 11, 13 & 14 but I was too broke to get a hotel so I took the bus for three hours to New York and back each of those days. And yesterday when I tried to sleep in my bed I couldn't get comfortable because I had spent so much time sleeping on a bus. But every night they played a few different songs and I had fun.
Also the dude in my profile pic is Kaoru, one of the bands guitarists. There's a funny story behind the pic too.
That's good to hear. As for Pomona & Stockton, I wouldn't know. I had to take this semester off but I invested all of my spare time into guitar. I just need to find a drummer and then I'll have my first band.
Awesome, I'm anxious to hear both..one record of yours that's nearly impossible to find is the first handfarm CD. I remember the first time I heard of you were these live tunes off that album that this guy sent me. Kind of reminiscent of holdsworth as far as song structures. Very cool nonetheless. -Take care
Hey Scott, thanks for the reply..Things are going good as of now. You're right the key is relaxing, some days it's easier than others. So do you have any new audio or video material on the horizon? All the best!
Cool..will do.. Just out of curiousity, have you ever experienced any wrist/joint problems in regard to practicing? Lately in particular my right wrist has been "cracking" a bit. Not too much pain involved, just slight discomfort. Probably due to pushing the envelope too hard from leaping from picking 16ths at 220 to 230. Suppose I'll just take a little break from it for awhile and be more careful by increasing the tempo more gradually. Anyway, thanks for listening, -Zach
Hello! My new track is available on my profile: "What's up"; that's an instrumental one, of course! I hope you will be able to listen to the track. Cheers! PIER
huh? I thought I invited everyone? Dude you you should have come. It was kind of a lame 21st but me and the two other friends who spent the night at the hotel had fun.
Hey Scott!!!Thanks for your comment,i really enjoy your music,i'm very impressed by your playing, is really original (actually, I..m still trying to figure out how you do some things, ha). Your phrasing is amazing. We're in touch mate!!! Juan Cortés
