Scott Nygaard

Scott is currently the guitarist in Darol Anger's Republic of Strings, whose debut album, Republic of Strings, was released in February 2004 on Compass Records. Look for the Republic of Strings' second release, Generation Nation, on Compass Records in April 2006.

Scott's other main musical project of late has been the Websters and Scott Nygaard, which features the sublime sister harmony of Chris and Cassie Webster on a variety of traditional and sounds-like-traditional material arranged by Scott. The group released a self-produced debut, Ten Thousand Miles, on Lots of Rabbits Records in February 2004. Watch for Chris Webster and Scott Nygaard duo gigs in coming months, and even a trio with Chris, Scott, and Darol!!

Scott also recently joined Bill Evans String Summitt, a progressive instrumental bluegrass group featuring the twin fiddles of Tashina and Tristan Clarridge as well as young Dobro phenom Michael Witcher.

Scott Nygaard is one of the most inventive and original guitarists in the bluegrass/acoustic music scene. His solos, a seamless amalgam of bluegrass, folk, and jazz influences, shift easily from breathtaking virtuosity to soulful melodic musings and his accompaniment is always intriguing, supportive and propulsive. He was the guitarist with Tim O'Brien's band, the O'Boys, from 1992 to 1997, a plum position that followed three years with Laurie Lewis's band Grant Street. He has also performed and recorded with such acoustic music stars as Jerry Douglas, Chris Thile, Tony Furtado, Darol Anger, and David Grisman, receiving numerous Grammy nominations for his stellar sidemanship.

Initially influenced by Doc Watson, Clarence White, Django Reinhardt, and Riley Puckett, Scott spent many years wandering the sea of American music that includes bluegrass, jazz, Cajun, western swing, and rock and roll. This diverse musical education, which primarily took place in the fertile Pacific Northwest, helped form a style which can truly be called Scott's own. He has released two solo albums on Rounder Records, the second of which, "Dreamer's Waltz," an intriguing mix of original and traditional tunes, was nominated for an Indie award by the Association for Independent Music.

Scott was an editor at Acoustic Guitar magazine for more than eight years, but he left the magazine in January to go back on the road and play music full-time (and manage his son's nascent bike-racing career). He lives in San Francisco with his wife, photographer Anne Hamersky, and their son, Josef.

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