Satyan, Arthur
Jazz | Lebanon
Arthur Satyan was born in Yerevan, Armenia in the family of leading Armenian Composers. His father introduced him to jazz and piano at the age of four. Not too long thereafter he won first prize in the Composition Competition between the local music schools, solidifying his decision to turn pro.
At 20 he joined the Komitas Armenian National Higher Conservatory of Music (Composition Department) in Yerevan, where luckily, he was studying with Armenia's best musicians: Avet Terteryan (orchestration), Edward Mirzoyan and his uncle Aram Satyan (composition), Robert Atayan (Armenian music analysis), Edward Pashinyan (harmony), etc..and graduated in 1998. Yet anyone listening to him might have a little idea that he is a product of the great old Soviet school of classical music. Over the next several years Arthur developed into the city's top piano man, working with all kinds of combos and big bands. In the early '90s Arthur was strongly influenced by Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea. While still living in Yerevan he discovered be-bop, and was strongly influenced by Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Barry Harris, etc..
In 1996 Arthur was invited to Beirut, Lebanon for the opening of the biggest casino in the Middle East "Casino Du Liban", where his band mates were Jack Gregg on bass, Steve Phillips on drums and Eric Schultz on guitar. In 1998 Arthur was appointed to the faculty of the Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music in Beirut, where he currently holds the title of Professor of Classical Piano and Jazz Studies. He designed the current jazz program in jazz studies.
In Lebanon he worked frequently with Larry Coryell, Charles Davis, Ray Vega, Joe Lee Wilson, Melissa Walker, Phillip Manuel and Dizzy Gillespie's guitarist Ed Cherry. By 2003 his reputation as a performer and articulate teacher of both classical and jazz music, the quality of his arrangements, compositions and piano-playing has raised eyebrows among visiting stars from New York and all over the world - like Larry Coryell, Alphonse Mouson and Steve Potts. He has also performed with such famous New Yorkers as trumpeter Tex Allen, saxophonists Matana Roberts and Charles Owens; singer Deborah Davis; blues guitarist and vocalist Murali Coryell. Recently listening to him was smiling, approving and applauding Ahmad Jamal. On 2005's "Qatar Jazz Festival" and "Asian Games 2006" Arthur shared the stage with great Zakir Hussain.
