Mark Doyle gives it a thumbs-up in his work room in his home on the east side of Syracuse. That’s his “Guitar Noir” and “In Dreams: Guitar Noir II” CDs and the bio for his performance at the M&T Jazz Fest this summer at his feet.
Yes, Mark Doyle can play guitar.
When I moved from suburban Washington, D.C., to Syracuse in the late summer of 1983, I was always on the lookout for good live music.
I mean, during the six years I lived in suburban Maryland, I got to see local players like sizzling guitarist Danny Gatton, and blues kings The Nighthawks with top guy Jimmy Thackery on the axe and up-and-coming power pop guitarist Tommy Keene.
Spoiled, somewhat, I had become.
And then one night sometime into this Syracuse journey of mine, I saw a line forming outside of a joint called Copperfields. The crummy looking marquee said The Doyle-Whiting Band. Hell, my schedule gave me Thursday nights off. I pulled in, found a spot, joined the long, snaking chain of Syracusans.
Drank some beer.
The band played.
Joe Whiting sang. Mark Doyle played guitar. Good rockin’ tonight. Ring of fire.
I knew I liked my job in the sports department of the big daily. I was making friends, fast.
Great local music, too?! Score.
I told Mark Doyle how I remembered seeing he and Whiting play that night while we were talking about his upcoming show May 16 at the Auburn Public Theater in Auburn. Tickets are $15. You can buy them by clicking here.
He smiled.
Doyle will be thrilled to be playing guitar with the band and string section he’s carefully assembled to perform works from his 1999 album “Guitar Noir,” the eventual sequeal “In Dreams: Guitar Noir II,” and 2001’s “Out of the Past.”
On July 11, he’ll also be leading the five-piece core band and the string section for a set at the M&T Jazz Fest, on the campus of Onondaga Community College.
It’s a big summer for the seven-time Syracuse Area Music Award Winner, member of the SAMMYs hall of fame, and musician and producer with a national resume that includes work with Meat Loaf, Maurice Starr, Andy Pratt, and, most recently, Mary Fahl.
Folks in Central New York know him for his many guitar collaborations with singer and sax man Joe Whiting. Mark’s father was jazz man Bobby Doyle. Mark is an accomplished jazz pianist. Most recently, on the guitar, he’s led the British blues-influenced power of Mark Doyle and the Maniacs.
The “Guitar Noir” style has its grips on him in the here and now.
“Every week, we add layers,” he says of the rehearsals of the song lists, separate for the two shows. “It reflects the fact that this is a good body of work, (the three albums), what (Syracuse radio host) calls ‘The Trilogy.’ This is a cool body of work. It’s got a style.”
It’s a hard style to describe.
Really, you want to hear it to believe it.
It’ll make you want to go to the movies.
I mean, the album that started it all begins with the theme from the old show “Perry Mason.”
It delves into a dreamy classic “When I Fall in Love.”
Here’s a site where you can do some streaming.
Bring on a good spaghetti western to go with some Guitar Noir.
If you’d like to read my story about the genesis of these two shows, and the band Doyle will work with, on the Syracuse Public Media site waer.org. click the link below.
http://waer.org/post/mark-doyle-eager-bring-back-his-guitar-noir-sound
Who is your favorite guitarist? Do you have a favorite instrumental album, or song?
Mark Bialczak 
By the way, I always like your reviews but am only on Linked In, WordPress and Hotmail. Can never click, “like” on your reviews! I enjoyed the review and was not able to get a whole schedule on any of the clicks above of Mark Doyle’s summer… Maybe there is a link I did not follow? Anyway, I enjoyed the bucket list review and more details about his styles and the way he helps others to ‘band together,’ too!
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Sorry you could not find what you need, Robin. I will look for you.
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I looked on his page and no trips to Ohio.
Here is the schedule I was looking at.
http://www.markdoyle.com/main.html
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I like the way you started this with memories and then, you lucked out with finding a great place that featured fantastic music! I think it is nice that this Mark Doyle has become quite a man of talent, interest and using a variety of styles. I would like his ‘noir’ style, I think! The price for tickets is excellent, too bad it is a little bit out of my one-hour-drive-to-hear-a-concert mindset, Mark! I would love to see him and the others at the Jazz Fest, too! Wonder if he travels to Ohio? Smiles, Robin
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I put the click on his name, Robin, and I know he always keeps his schedule on his web site. He is quite popular and does indeed take has band on the road! Thanks. You should think about extending the one-hour drive for the Syracuse Jazz Fest, considering that it is two days of admission-free music!
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Such a bargain, Mark! You are so right! If only my middle brother, your age, would take me on the road trip to there. I am hesitant to go much farther than the 2 1/2 hours to Mom’s and 1 hour for concerts that I need to return home for! Hey! I meant to tell you that one of my favorite guitarists is Carlos Santana! Take it easy and someday, I may be in a better situation and take more ‘road trips!’ Smiles, Robin
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I really love Carlos Santana, too, Robin. Maybe someday you will travel to more concerts! Me, too!
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that is wonderful, and i love an eclectic mix of music, like mark can play. my fav guys on guitar, well – george harrison, tom petty, chris issak, and i love sting on bass, but i know that wasn’t the question just had to add him into the mix because i love him.
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Very cool cast of guitarists, Beth. I’m glad you caught Mark’s eclectic sensibility, too. As far as listing Sting goes … you know by now that the my egalitarian world welcomes bass players on a guitar plane!
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It sounds like Mr. Doyle was as fun to interview as it is to hear and watch him perform. But of course, I’ve got to go with RIchie Sambora for my favorite. It’s a Bon Jovi thing. Great post! 🙂
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It’s Your Life, Rachel …
No, really, Riche S. and Bon Jovi is a wonderful choice.
And you have it right about Mark Doyle. Is a smart, thoughtful man.
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😀
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Congrats on this article !!!!! EXCELLENT!!! It brings me great pleasure to know each and every Doyle talent especially Mama Jean Doyle……and of course, Bobby Doyle……their talent runs through each and every one of them of this most talented family. As for favorite musicians, I could name so many….lets just say……. Im a fan !!!!
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Thank you for mentioning that it is a Doyle family thing, Ann!
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Looks like you’re going to have a fun night out Mark. Favorite guitarist? Hummm. Jimmy Hendricks, on the rock side of the fence, and John Williams for flamenco guitar, although my sister Elaine plays a pretty mean flamenco herself. Merle Travis in the country music side (he invented the Travis picking style that I used) and Randy Lanham in Bluegrass (he also plays mandolin, fiddle, banjo, keyboard and a couple of other instruments, sings and dances). Randy is local, but used to tour with Reba, and was a backup musician in Nashville before deciding to come home to take charge of the City Entertainment Board.
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Thank you for sharing those choices, Angie. I want to hear more about when you and your sister played and sang together out on the road!
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Only in church with Elaine Mark. And a few places around town, but she was only 16 and never hit the road with me. She didn’t have a high opinion of my abilities, but an extremely high opinion of herself, even to the present day. She occasionally reads my blog, so I’ll never take a chance that she will read one where she is not compared favorable, although she does have an amazing soprano voice and plays several instruments now. Unfortunately she was attacked by the green eyed monster by age 17, and her goals changed accordingly. We had fun for awhile though, and I still respect her talent. She could have gone far.
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Too bad, Angie. Wish the sister act could have turned out more beneficial to both of you.
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Currently, I adore Robert Trujillo bass guitar skills. I am a huge Metallica fan.
This is just my subject, Mark.
1. James Hetfield
2. Slash (I had a very healthy obsession with him in the late 80s and early 90s)
3. Clapton (always)
4. My new fav: Tommy Emmanual “Pappa George”
Amazing!
I could go on but…I have work to do.
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Your list is a shredder, indeed, Audrey.
Let me see …
I got kicked in the head on the edges of the mosh pit during a Metallica set during Lollapalooza in Columbus, Ohio And I was standing straight up! Love Hetfield. I’ve seen Metallica double-digits. ‘Enter Sandman’ still gives me chills.
A man who wears hats like me must be in the Slash camp, no?
Clapton, yes, always. I am friends with Kim Simmonds, a peer of Eric’s growing up in the U.K. Guitar star himself, leader of Savoy Brown, lives here now. Played golf with him. But I’ve never seen Clapton. How’d that happen?
Tommy Emmanuel is best buds with a couple of Syracuse guitarists, including Loren Barrigar, who you must google to check out his playing. Anyway, four times up front in Syracuse to see Tommy E play. The first time I literally had to pick my jaw up off the floor.
So, I agree with you, Audrey.
If you get a minute, check out Mark Doyle and Loren Barrigar and your list could grow, too.
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My best friend here in Houston has a brother in law by the name of Zakk Wylde, he’s Ozzy’s guitarist. Zakk is amazing! He is another on my long list.
Mark, I had no idea you were so freaking awesome! I sat with Slash at the Kentucky Derby about 11 years ago…I gotta tell you. It was amazing. He is so talented! Yes, I should have put your hat connection together. Dang it!
I will def check them out…my list is so long. We could go for hours about the guitar players of the world.
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Well, Audrey, I must say that you sitting with Slash at the Kentucky Derby sure beats me liking him because I wear hats. I mean, you are seriously cool for that one.
Zakk Wylde, yes, indeed, another big name for the list. …
YEs,
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I forced myself next to him. It wasn’t easy. I think having similar hair helped my cause…
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Sounds great Mark, as for your two questions…Eric Clapton comes to my mind right away…but I’ll need to give it some more thought…how to choose just one? Let’s see…
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I did not wish to put the music fan handcuffs on anybody. Go ahead, Sandra, pick as many favorite guitarists as you’d like! Have fun with it. There are so many.
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