Mahanaim Satya

Mahanaim Satya (aka Naim Satya) started down the road to a musical career at the age of seven when he took up the piano. By the time he began his formal music training in Junior College, he was already playing ten instruments. Satya joined the U.S. Army and ended up playing bass in the Army Band in Oakland. Artists he played with during these years included Jackson Browne and Sonny Simmons. His big chance came when Charles Lloyd was looking for a back up band and Satya's trio got the gig. Since then he has recorded for the Pacific Arts and, mostly, for David Watson's Music in the Vines. He's also recorded and shared the stage with many jazz artists, including Michael White, John Handy, Bobby McFerrin, and Sun Ra. In 1995, coming out of semi-retirement after 15 quiet years, Satya came back to jazz through the piano and has played with his group, Jazz Philosophy. Working in the San Francisco area, he has been writing original material as well as performing in a wide range of jazz styles from mainstream to Latin and fusion. His playing embodies the influences of Ron Carter, Paul Chambers, and especially John Coltrane who Satya considers his mentor. Satya continues to record and perform with his group in the Bay Area. ~ Dave Nathan, Rovi