Savanna Silver Band
Pure Silver

At my favorite vinyl store, Filippo impressed me once again. In every sense. He suggests this completely unknown record by an even more obscure band that in the late '70s worked hard in the “worst bars” of Melbourne. On the cover and back cover is the silhouette of a black butterfly on a gray background, which in itself is an invitation for further exploration. Once again, my intellectual half drags me into the whirlpool of knowledge, and I can only surrender to the current that pulls me all the way down.

Michael Savanna, stage name of Michalakis “Miguel” Stelios Sergides, left London in the mid seventies after collaborating on two psychedelic folk albums: the mysterious and unobtainable “Anaconda” and subsequently “Arcadium,” arriving in the land of kangaroos to form his own band, the Savanna Silver Band, indeed.

“Pure Silver” is a jazz funk-rock album with a hint of Latin rhythms, produced and arranged by Gil Matthews, recorded at the Armstrong Studios in Melbourne between July and December 1978 for Champagne Records.

The Silver Savanna Band is composed of: Michael Savanna on vocals, guitar, synthesizer, and percussion; Graham Jenks and Tony Pedroza on rhythm guitar; Paul Wheeler on bass; Anthony Doyle on drums and percussion, Russell Smith on saxophone, John McCulloch and Tim Fettesalla on trumpet; Miguel Carranza on trombone; Mel Stainton on clarinet; Alejandro Pertout Navarro on congas, timbales, and percussion; with Meryle Petein and Olga Binos on backing vocals.

The entire album, a perfect alchemy of instrumental and vocal parts, is based on ten long and complex compositions permeated by a soft and pleasant funk atmosphere.

The first track on side A “Ruby Running Faker” immediately captures with a groove clearly inspired by the sound of Santana.

The phaser bass line by Paul Wheeler in “Like I Do” is beautiful, suspended between funk and blues, creating a very relaxed, almost nighttime atmosphere.

Also very beautiful is “It Takes a Woman” characterized by a guitar and bass phrasing supported by backing vocals.

Side B starts off great already with the cosmic groove of “Take a Giant Step.” A prelude of synthesizer and gong ends up exploding into a mid-tempo funk groove that's literally to shout about.

Also noteworthy is “Mr. Featherman” which delves further into the territory of the aforementioned track by adding the exotic atmosphere of an oriental psychedelic chant.

It closes with “Just Remember,” a very atmospheric and nocturnal piece that seemed just right to conclude this album, which was the first but unfortunately also the last recorded by the Savanna Silver Band (unfortunately, it’s also very hard to find as NM in vinyl format).

Enjoy listening from your Dr. Jazz.

Ah… almost forgot: Filippo Santo Subito.