Greg Satterthwaite: Savannah Blue

Greg Satterthwaite was born in Jamaica and moved with his family to the US when he was five. After earning a Bachelor of Music from the University of Miami, followed by a Master of Arts in Commercial Music from Florida Atlantic University and finally his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas in Jazz Piano Performance, he is currently an Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano and African American Studies at the University of Georgia.

Savannah Blue is the title of his second album. It is a thematic exploration of the city in Georgia where he found a musical and cultural home, as well as the blue waters from the Atlantic Ocean which spoke to his Jamaican roots. With these thoughts in mind, the ideas for the record began to flow.

The album opens with "Take Your Time," which begins like an island breeze blowing softly over the listener. Satterthwaite has a gentle touch on the piano which sets the mood. Derrick James on alto gives an impassioned solo before the piece settles back into the initial groove. The title track (see YouTube video below) is a catchy bop melody and a wonderful arrangement that allows each lead to express themselves. The guitarist, (on five of the eight tracks) Rod Harris Jr punches the tempo forward while James and Satterthwaite show their abilities to wail.

"Island Roots," follows in a similar vein. It is a lovely, seemingly simple composition. Nostalgic in nature, the song's structure gives it a few different layers. McCoy Tyner's influence on Satterthwaite here is subtle, yet apparent with his dense chordings. "Beware The Tides" has almost an ECM-era Keith Jarrett, "My Song" feel to it. It is a beautiful, sweet melody with sparkling interludes by James and Harris before Satterthwaite gets to explore the beauty of his composition.

Satterthwaite composed six of the album's eight tracks. The first cover here is "Take The A Train." Once again, it is done in a soft, straightforward manner that slowly intensifies as the performance moves forward. His playing here shows many insights into his mindset. It is stylistic and cerebral, yet imaginative, which considering his academic background is not surprising. The other cover is Sting's "La Belle Dame Sans Regrets." It is re-imagined as a pensive, quiet bossa-nova while retaining the song's haunting theme. Bassist Delbert Felix gets his chance to be highlighted here.

"Jazzy One Drop" closes the album. It is a tribute to Satterthwaite's Jamaican roots. It is a fusion of sorts, combining a jazzy bop melody with a reggae backbeat. Surprisingly, this is one track that doesn't quite work. The rhythm seems a bit heavy-handed and forced. It is a pleasant enough song, but it could have been much more, considering the leader's background.

Otherwise, the rhythm section is strong throughout, providing the foundation to further Satterthwaite concepts. It is true to its theme with breezy melodies, yet impressive improvisation by the lead instruments. This is an album that will sound great while driving along an ocean-view road or at any time one wants to experience the healing forces of a beautiful summer day.