Music was my first love and has been my passion since I was a child. Saxophone is my primary instrument, and I also play drums and compose using piano, Rhodes, B3, and vibraphone.

I grew up in Mansfield, Ohio, now famous as the home of the hit movie ‘The Shawshank Redemption’. I never fit in with other kids so I spent much of my childhood listening to all genres of music and dreaming of one day being a great musician.

My dad was a pianist. One of my fondest childhood memories is experiencing him playing Rhapsody in Blue on his grand piano. His piano playing was definitely an inspiration to me. I don’t refer to myself as a pianist, but my ever-growing piano knowledge has helped me compose more than 150 songs over the years.

In 1986 I was introduced to the music of David Sanborn and my life changed in an instant. I was 14, and hearing the saxophone being played the way he did lit a fire in me that has burned now for almost 40 years. By the time I graduated high school, I had learned to play a majority of his music.

Influenced to teach music like my high school music teacher - the legendary Percy Hall - I went on to Bowling Green State University and studied music education for most of 2 years. My sophomore year, when I was supposed to be practicing scales and rehearsing whatever piece I was working on in private lessons, I spent more and more time ‘banging away’ on one of the many Steinway and Yamaha practice room pianos. During my last semester, I took a basic piano class and immediately fell in love with playing piano.

Not knowing what I wanted to major in, I decided against going back to BG and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force with the hopes of traveling and figuring out what I wanted to do with my life. I became an aircraft mechanic like step-dad. He worked on F-4 fighter jets during Viet Nam. He told me I wouldn’t be good it since I wasn’t mechanically inclined (because he was never willing to teach me about anything mechanical), so I had to prove him wrong. If I could go back and do it again, I would have pursued the Air Force Band. But you know what they say about hindsight…

I was stationed at March AFB in SoCal for most of my 4 year enlistment. It was there I would meet a fellow airman who had a home studio setup. We spent countless hours jamming - usually me on drums and him on electric guitar or bass - and he taught me the basics of recording. Together we recorded my first album - 7 or 8 originals of Scott on guitar and bass, and me playing keys, drums and sax and singing.

Back to David Sanborn…

In 1992, just before I left for basic training, I saw Dave and his band live for the first time. I had the honor of getting to meet him after the show. He was incredibly kind and engaging. I told him I was a horn player and he asked me about myself. I told him I was getting ready to go into the Air Force and what he told made made no sense in the moment, but looking back now was foreshadowing. He said, ‘Great opportunity for music’. I knew he had to have been smoking something right after the show!

The amazing thing was, I would see him live again 6 years later, and again, found my way to his dressing room after the show. I briefly told him about meeting him in ‘92 and about the conversation we had about music and the Air Force. His reply…’Yes. I remember. So how did it go?’ I was floored that after meeting hundreds of fans during the years between us meeting, he remembered. Truly two of the best moments of my life.

In 2010, back in my hometown, I formed my first jazz group - Bryce Millikin & Friends. Over a span of two years we played several shows regionally. I loved the feeling of playing live with others, and look forward to the opportunity to do so again, someday. 

Now after 25 years of inspiration by Sanborn, Joe Sample, Miles Davis, Tom Scott, Marcus Miller, John Legend, John Mayer, Lenny Kravitz, deadmau5, DMB, and many others, I’ve released two electronic albums, and have five albums worth of original contemporary jazz and jazz inspired compositions.

I am currently completing and releasing singles from my new album where I play (or have composed) all the instruments, that blend the classic contemporary jazz feel with chill & neo-soul elements. Following album projects will feature full bands, and will include horn sections, vocals and strings.