Meet Dr. Greg Satterthwaite | Artist, Educator, Speaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Greg Satterthwaite and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Greg, what role has risk played in your life or career?
As an artist, creating and bringing a musical idea to life is risky because artistry is not always accepted or understood, resulting in the possibility of feeling creatively rejected. To be a masterful musician requires a tremendous amount of practice, dedication, discipline and fortitude. It takes sacrifice to develop into the artist you want to become. Making these investments into yourself matters. They help propel you into accomplishing your goals and dreams.

My artistry is a reflection of my life experiences in the United States as a person of Afro-Caribbean descent. When I perform and bring forth a body of musical work to the public, my work is a reflection of me, my ideas, my talent, and who I am as a pianist and person. All of my albums, Who I Am, and Savannah Blue have been reflections of my journey, and I hope that my artistry inspires and uplifts people. The reward of experiencing how others enjoy my music or performances makes the risk of putting it all out there worth it. I am grateful to be able to experience the positive effects that my music can have in people’s lives.

I have learned and grown from all of my life and career experiences, although risks were a part of my journey. There have certainly been pivotal times in my life that I had to step away from something secure, in order to step into something new. Risk is often uncomfortable, but usually necessary for growth. I co-founded an online platform called JazzSpire (www.jazzspire.org) that aims to uplift the arts, artists, and creative education. This platform is one of the ways I try to inspire others to support the arts, inspire other artists, and bring awareness to creative ideas and thoughts.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

As a jazz pianist, educator and speaker, I am proud to bring forth improvisational music that speaks to who I am as a performer and composer. I arranged and composed all compositions on my debut album Who I Am, and my sophomore album Savannah Blue was released on June 9, 2023. Both albums can be heard on major music streaming platforms. I am extremely excited about continuing to perform compositions from the new album Savannah Blue and share my artistry with others around the world.

I have performed at festivals and venues including the Swan City Piano Festival, Denton Arts and Jazz Festival, SunFest, the Velvet Note, Good Times Jazz Bar & Restaurant, the University of South Carolina, and the Murchison Performing Arts Center to name a few. Additionally, I have either performed or recorded with Grammy winning and nominated artists including Terreon Gully, Quentin Baxter, Rodney Whitaker, Curtis Lundy, and Delbert Felix.

As a South Arts Winter 2023 Jazz Road Tours grant recipient, I was able to tour and perform music from my latest album, Savannah Blue in June 2023. The tour was a symbol of what I want to do, where I want to go, and was an opportunity for me to give back to the communities that have supported me over the years. I would like to be an example to others that having a thriving career in the arts is possible. Artistically, the tour allowed me the opportunity to continue to practice my artistry as a performer, become inspired by the musicians I was able to perform with, and to draw inspiration from audience attendees. Securing funding for tours and performances can be challenging. Applying for artist grants from various organizations is an important part of overcoming the challenge of obtaining funds to support your work as an artist and earning appropriate compensation.

Life experiences and education have been a large part of getting to where I am today. I have been fortunate enough to graduate from some of the nation’s most prestigious jazz programs. I earned my Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of North Texas in Jazz Piano Performance, a Master of Arts in Commercial Music from Florida Atlantic University, and a Bachelor of Music from the University of Miami.

My education and career experiences have enabled me to secure a position as an Assistant Professor of Jazz Piano and African American Studies at the University of Georgia.

I have written a bucket list of musical aspirations, and every year, I strive to accomplish every goal on my list. I aim to be intentional about how I would like to experience the world through my music as well as inspiring others in the process.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Atlanta Fish Market, High Museum of Art, Piedmont Park at the Atlanta Jazz Festival

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I would like to dedicate a Shoutout to two people: Dr. John Murphy, Professor Emeritus of jazz history and former chair of the Division of Jazz Studies at The University of North Texas. He passed in 2022. Dr. Murphy was an amazing educator who supported me in so many ways. He was a huge part of my doctoral experience at the University of North Texas, and I am grateful for his leadership and guidance.

Stephen Scott, jazz pianist extraordinaire, has performed and recorded with artists such as Betty Carter, Joe Henderson, Sonny Rollins, Ron Carter and many more. Mr. Scott is a phenomenal musician that poured into me musically and mentored me as a jazz pianist. His brilliance on the piano inspires me continuously. I am truly grateful for his wisdom and creative mastery on the piano.

Website: www.gregonkeys.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregonkeys/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXME4IUKA5HsMMhWG2x2lqQ/featured

Other: www.Jazzspire.org Spotify open.spotify.com/artist/2pIsIxw049Vpla4PicQfFR Apple music.apple.com/us/artist/greg-satterthwaite/940282048

Image Credits
Katie Parker Shawn Moss