The Tea Party

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The Tea Party
The Tea Party in 2001 (L-R: Stuart Chatwood, Jeff Burrows, Jeff Martin)
The Tea Party in 2001 (L-R: Stuart Chatwood, Jeff Burrows, Jeff Martin)
Background information
Origin Windsor, Ontario
Canada Flag of Canada
Genre(s) Hard Rock, World Music, Blues, Progressive Rock
Years active 1990–2005
Label(s) EMI
Associated
acts		 Roy Harper
The Art Decay
Website http://www.teaparty.com/
Members
Jeff Martin
Stuart Chatwood
Jeff Burrows
This is an article about a Canadian rock band. For other uses, see Tea party (disambiguation).

The Tea Party was a Canadian rock band with blues, progressive rock, Indian and Middle Eastern influences dubbed "Moroccan roll" by the media.

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Formation and first years (1990 - 1995)

The Tea Party was formed in 1990 by Jeff Martin, Stuart Chatwood and Jeff Burrows after a marathon jam session at the Cherry Beach Rehearsal Studios in Toronto. Each member had previously played together during their teenage years in a number of different bands.

The Tea Party released their eponymous debut album in 1991, distributing it through their own label Eternal Discs. The album drew influences from psychedelic rock and blues and was produced by Martin; album production was something Martin would continue with for all of The Tea Party's albums, as a way of giving the band complete artistic control. In 1993 The Tea Party signed to EMI Music Canada and released their first major label recording Splendor Solis. The band employed open tuning and goblet drums to imitate Indian sounds, something they continued to employ throughout their career, while continuing in a blues influenced style. The band went on their first tour of Australia.

[edit] The Edges of Twilight and beyond (1995 - 2000)

Further developing The Tea Party's sound in 1995 The Edges of Twilight was recorded with an array of Indian and Middle-eastern instrumentation. Upon returning from successful tours in Canada, Europe and Australia in 1996, The Tea Party went onto record Alhambra an Enhanced CD which features acoustic re-recordings of songs from The Edges of Twilight, followed by a brief tour around Canada known as "Alhambra acoustic and eclectic".

Transmission released in 1997 saw The Tea Party's first foray into electronica, the sound not unlike Nine Inch Nails. Triptych followed in 1999 and is The Tea Party's most commercially successful album, the first single "Heaven Coming Down" rose to #1 on Canadian radio. The Tea Party's music took on a more orchestral sound, maturing from the blues base.

[edit] Tangents and later years (2000 - 2005)

After releasing Tangents a singles compilation in 2000 and Illuminations a DVD compliation of music videos which Martin remixed in Surround sound in 2001 [1] The Tea Party released The Interzone Mantras and in 2002 joined symphony orchestras across Canada in adapting their live show.[2]

Seven Circles the band's final album was released in 2004. Both The Interzone Mantras and Seven Circles saw the band return to their earlier sounds with greater maturity.

[edit] Breakup (October 2005)

In October 2005 The Tea Party disbanded due to creative differences, with Martin abruptly announcing he was beginning a solo career. Afterward Chatwood stated on the band's forum "that Jeff Burrows and myself are sincerely sorry for the way this was handled. As far as Jeff Burrows and myself were concerned, the band was taking an extended break."[3]

[edit] Post-breakup (2006 - present)

After the breakup Martin moved to Ireland and recorded his debut solo album Exile and the Kingdom which was released in Canada and Australia in 2006 [4] and toured parts of Europe, Canada and Australia. In November 2006, Martin released a live album recorded that September, Live in Brisbane 2006.

Chatwood continued to compose video game soundtracks including the Prince of Persia games developed by Ubisoft Montreal: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2003), Prince of Persia: Warrior Within (2004), and Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones (2005).

In 2006 Burrows joined Rush's Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson, and other Canadian musicans as drummer in the one-off project the Big Dirty Band. As of January 2007 Burrows was working with Chatwood as the band The Art Decay.

[edit] Trivia

  • Roy Harper has appeared on two Tea Party albums, firstly The Edges of Twilight where he recited a poem at the end of the song "Walk with me" and secondly on Alhambra providing vocals for the song "Time".
  • The Tea Party were nominated for 22 MuchMusic Video Awards and were awarded three People's Choice Awards for Favourite Music Video, two for "The River" (directed by Floria Sigismondi), and one for "The Bazaar" (directed by George Vale). "Sister Awake" director Curtis Wehfritz received a nomination at the 1996 Juno Awards for Best Director, but failed to win the award. However, "Release" director Ulf Buddensieck won a Best Cinematography Award at the 1998 Juno Awards .

[edit] Members

[edit] Discography

The Tea Party
The Tea Party cover
Released June 1991
Label Eternal Discs
Sales 3,500
Track listing
  1. "Let Me Show You The Door" – 3:22
  2. "Midsummer Day" – 5:48
  3. "Little Miss Heaven" – 3:18
  4. "Winter Solstice" – 2:48
  5. "Save Me" – 8:18
  6. "Sun Is Going Down" – 5:17
  7. "Watching What The Rain Blows In" – 5:45
  8. "Fallen Angel" – 4:52
  9. "Dreams Of Reason" – 7:40
  10. "Goodman Rag" – 3:57
  11. "All My Charms" – 5:50
  12. "Baby What You Trying To Do" – 5:56


Splendor Solis
Splendor Solis cover
Released June 1993
Label EMI
Sales 235,000
Certification Double Platinum (Canada), Gold (Australia)
Track listing
  1. "The River" – 5:44
  2. "Midsummer Day" – 5:58
  3. "A Certain Slant Of Light" – 5:00
  4. "Winter Solstice" – 2:45
  5. "Save Me" – 6:35
  6. "Sun Going Down" – 6:31
  7. "In This Time" – 4:57
  8. "Dreams Of Reason" – 6:19
  9. "Raven Skies" – 5:17
  10. "Haze On The Hills" – 2:24
  11. "The Majestic Song" – 4:37


The Edges of Twilight
The Edges of Twilight cover
Released March 1995
Label EMI
Sales 270,000
Certification Double Platinum (Canada), Platinum (Australia)
Track listing
  1. "Fire In The Head" – 5:06
  2. "The Bazaar" – 3:42
  3. "Correspondences" – 7:28
  4. "The Badger" – 3:58
  5. "Silence" – 2:51
  6. "Sister Awake" – 5:43
  7. "Turn The Lamp Down Low" – 5:16
  8. "Shadows On The Mountainside" – 3:39
  9. "Drawing Down The Moon" – 5:26
  10. "Inanna" – 3:48
  11. "Coming Home" – 5:53
  12. "Walk With Me" – 14:20


Alhambra
Alhambra cover
Released March 1996
Label EMI
Sales 50,000
Certification Gold (Canada)
Track listing
  1. "The Grand Bazaar" – 3:55
  2. "Inanna (acoustic version)" – 3:20
  3. "Silence (acoustic version)" – 3:57
  4. "Turn The Lamp Down (acoustic version)" - 4:58
  5. "Time" – 6:58
  6. "Sister Awake Remix" – 4:37


Transmission
Transmission cover
Released June 1997
Label EMI
Sales 235,000
Certification Double Platinum (Canada), Gold (Australia)
Track listing
  1. "Temptation" – 3:25
  2. "Army Ants" – 3:33
  3. "Psychopomp" – 5:17
  4. "Gyroscope" – 2:56
  5. "Alarum" – 4:58
  6. "Release" – 4:05
  7. "Transmission" – 5:17
  8. "Babylon" – 2:50
  9. "Pulse" – 4:09
  10. "Emerald" – 4:51
  11. "Aftermath" – 5:43


Triptych
Triptych cover
Released June 1999
Label EMI
Sales 235,000
Certification Double Platinum (Canada), Gold (Australia)
Track listing
  1. "Touch " – 3:57
  2. "Underground" – 3:41
  3. "Great Big Lie" – 3:50
  4. "Heaven Coming Down" – 4:01
  5. "The Halcyon Days" – 5:57
  6. "The Messenger" – 3:32
  7. "Samsara " – 3:56
  8. "A Slight Attack" – 3:15
  9. "Taking Me Away" – 5:02
  10. "These Living Arms" – 5:05
  11. "Chimera" – 4:29
  12. "Gone" – 3:35
  13. Untitled – 1:02


Tangents: The Tea Party Collection
Tangents: The Tea Party Collection cover
Released November 2000
Label EMI
Sales 100,000
Certification Platinum (Canada)
Track listing
  1. "Walking Wounded" – 4:37
  2. "Temptation" - 3:25
  3. "The Messenger" - 3:31
  4. "Psychopomp" - 5:15
  5. "Sister Awake" - 5:43
  6. "The Bazaar" - 3:42
  7. "Save Me" (Remix) - 6:36
  8. "Fire in the Head" - 5:06
  9. "Release" - 4:04
  10. "Heaven Coming Down" - 4:01
  11. "The River" (Remix) - 5:43
  12. "Babylon" - 2:49
  13. "Waiting on a Sign" - 4:21
  14. "Lifeline" - 4:37
  15. "Paint it Black" - 3:34


The Interzone Mantras
The Interzone Mantras cover
Released October 2001
Label EMI
Sales 50,000
Certification Gold (Canada)
Track listing
  1. "Interzone" – 3:39
  2. "Angels" – 4:54
  3. "The Master and Margarita" – 4:13
  4. "Apathy" – 3:55
  5. "Soulbreaking" – 4:45
  6. "Lullaby" – 4:19
  7. "Must Must" – 3:59
  8. "White Water Siren" – 4:54
  9. "Cathartik" – 5:00
  10. "Dust To Gold" – 4:20
  11. "Requiem" – 4:30
  12. "Mantra" – 8:00


Seven Circles
Seven Circles cover
Released August 2004
Label EMI
Sales 50,000
Certification Gold (Canada)
Track listing
  1. "Writing's on the Wall" – 2:40
  2. "Stargazer" – 4:11
  3. "One Step Closer Away" – 3:49
  4. "Oceans" – 4:35
  5. "Luxuria" – 4:25
  6. "Overload" – 3:53
  7. "Coming Back Again" – 4:44
  8. "The Watcher" – 4:16
  9. "Empty Glass" – 3:16
  10. "Wishing you Would Stay" – 4:11
  11. "Seven Circles" – 7:36

[edit] Videography

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Band biography: Illuminations The Tea Party Collection 2001, DVD, EMI Music Canada, Mississauga.
  2. ^ The Tea Party 2004, Band biography. The Tea Party official website Accessed 15 January 2007.
  3. ^ Chatwood, S 2005, Stuart Chatwood statement. The Tea Party official forum Accessed 15 January 2007.
  4. ^ Bliss, K 2006, Jeff Martin in-studio session, Jam! Music. Jam! Music Accessed 5 April 2006.


[edit] See also

[edit] External links


The Tea Party
Jeff Martin | Stuart Chatwood | Jeff Burrows
Discography
Albums: The Tea Party | Splendor Solis | The Edges of Twilight | Alhambra | Transmission | Triptych | The Interzone Mantras | Seven Circles
Compilations and box-sets: Tangents: The Tea Party Collection
Singles: "The River" | "In this time" | "A certain slant of light" | "Save me" | "Midsummer Day" | "Shadows on the Mountainside" | "Fire in the head" | "The Bazaar" | "Sister Awake" | "Inanna" | "Sister Awake Remix" | "Temptation" | "Babylon" | "Release" | "Gyroscope" | "Psychopomp" | "Touch" | "Heaven coming down" | "A slight attack" | "The Messenger" | "These Living Arms" | "Gone" | "Walking Wounded" | "Lullaby" | "Angels" | "Soulbreaking" | "Writings on the wall" | "Stargazer"
Demos: Capitol Records demo 1990
Films
Illuminations (DVD)
Related articles
The Art Decay
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