The Satyr Hill Band 1983 
Left to right: Judd Hawkins, Jim Bienemann,
Ned Luberecki. Bottom: Steve Sadler

The Satyr Hill Band 2012
Left to right: Dave Propst, Tom Reeves,
Judd Hawkins, Rick Miller, George Osing

December 2006: From Keith Harrison:

Well Stinky (Ed. note: another moniker for Rick), [ed note: actually, Rick's nic- name for Keith] you've asked me to write an article for the website, based on my experience with the SHB. As I put some thoughts to paper, it struck that there is a lot to the SHB music that most listeners don't hear. To explain, I'll have to go back a few years and give some background.

After moving back home to Virginia from Austin, TX in 1994, and playing banjo with the Grassy Knoll Boys, I was determined to find a band to play with in DC/Balt area. For several months I was going to as many jam sessions as I could; sometimes 7 nights a week. One night, at the Tuesday night jam in Burtonsville, MD, I met and started picking with Jude Restivo. He asked me if I knew "Snowball", a fairly obscure Alan Munde tune. I said not really, but let's give it a whirl. I faked it well enough for Jude to let me know they were looking for a banjo player and ask if I would start practicing with them.

My first gig was a Christmas time gig, at some fancy restaurant outside of Baltimore, MD. It was the birthday of a former Oriole baseball player. Danny Curtis was picking mandolin with us then (see you on the other side brother), Charlie was playing bass, Rick on Guitar, Jude on fiddle, and Sippy Taylor (Liz) belted out a few tunes. Oh yeah, I struggled my way through on banjo. Soon after, Tom Reeves joined the band playing bass, and Charlie moved to mandolin.

It was this way until I left the band last year as I could no longer sacrifice family and work for my passion of playing music; I wanted to spend more time with my wife, my 2 daughters, and my career was beckoning.

During those years, 2 things developed that most listeners probably don't hear when listening to the Satyr Hill Band. Firstly, instead of just band mates or co-workers, a brethren and kinship developed between the 5 of us. A net result of that, and secondly, was an understanding of each other's musical voice that facilitated a very tight, and unified sound that became synonymous of the Satyr Hill Band.

As far as most bands go, it is so incredibly rare for the same group of guys to stick together for so many years. I couldn't have asked for a nicer situation or group of guys to be a part of; and I think we all feel that way. More over, the five of us are so different personality wise; it was just a treat to get together. As different as the cast of Seinfeld is, so are the members of SHB. This, in my opinion, proved to be the secret equation to our longevity. When there was tension, we each had a different perspective to bring the band back to earth.

Jude providing leadership and democracy (not an un-daunting task at times); Charlie providing an unwavering ear, professionalism, attention to detail and taste, Tom providing an uncanny musical sense, was never wrong and would always pull one out of the hat that would keep us laughing for hours (ohhh dah kwest of duh d'waves); Rick's big voice, likability and good nature, along with his sense of dynamics, and me; hell, I just played banjo. The bottom line, everyone had something to offer and it made me a better player and more important, the band a better unit.

That unit, the tight, unified sound, was not only a result of our kinship, but was enhanced by everyone's musical sensibility. Being the only member in the band that doesn't sing (well), the vocal talent in the band was easily observed and witnessed. Here's how songs would get introduced: someone would simply say, hey - let's try this one. Having learned the song, it would get thrown out there and on the first pass, it was a decent, passable rendition of the song, regardless if it was a cover or an original.

So grasping the concept of song was almost always a gimme. All of our time spent practicing was spent on intros, endings, vocal harmonies, instrumental harmonic passages, and dynamics. The end result, after years of practicing in this environment, was the Satyr Hill Band sound.

That, perhaps, is what most listeners do not hear - the dynamic nuances; personally and musically.

I have so much respect for you guys and I miss our time together. We sure had some fun...

On a final note, I know that George is a tremendous asset to SHB, a good friend, and a fantastic banjo player with some licks that I only wish I had. I am thrilled that he has been able to step in as easily as he has and that he is bringing some banjo to SHB that technically I struggled with. Keep it real George...

With that, my best to you guys. To the fans, thank you so much for not only supporting me during my years with SHB, but for the ongoing support of the SHB.

Regards, Keith

Walter James
Bienemann "Jim"
1943 - 2011
Charter member of
The Satyr Hill Band

The greatest guy to play in a band with and one of the 4 that broke into a slow smile one evening practice as the new direction of the band was realized.. 1982

Jim Bienemann, Steve Sadler, Ned Luberecki, Judd "Hawk" Hawkins

Mike Munford, Ken Windbeck, Tommy Neal, Tim Kruzic, Joe Zauner, George Wagman, Ross Nickerson, Scott Walker, Jeff Forman, Jeep Watson, Dan Mazer, Akira Otsuka, Bobby Van Hoy, Jeff Westerinen,
Mark Seitz, Doug Kriess, Troy Engle, Norman Wright, Doug Bartlett, Mark McGlashan, Warren Blair,
Dick Smith, Tom Mindte, Bill Beeler, Dave Giegerich, Roy Bell, Mike Garris, Carroll Swam, Scott Morgan, Ernie Openshaw, Dede Wyland, Jeff Presley, Jordan Tice, Keith Wadell, Greg Root, Geoff King,
Jason Hannann, Dave McGlashan, Brad Sams, Kip Martin, George Garris,
Steve Streett, Barb Diederich, Billy Monroe, Pete Reichwein,
Carolyn Kellock, Brian Pelosik,
Tim Kidd, Jon Glik