Green Tea performs a collection of high-energy Irish dance music with a strong infusion of Celtic world-beat and contemporary improvisation. Such is the distinctiveness of Green Tea's sound (the traditional blended with the new), that it can sometimes defy categorization. In any case, Green Tea will knock your socks off! And that includes socks of all ages: college students, children, and parents may be found dancing on the same eclectic dance floor when Green Tea plays. Green Tea's first album's name? ALL AGES, of course! Listeners delight in following the winding acoustic pathways that Green Tea's musicians explore in their articulation of Irish traditional music, jazz, bluegrass, Middle Eastern and Eastern European grooves, the Blues, and even Pop music. Known for its diverse array of instrumentation, Green Tea serves up new sounds and new concepts with every performance. Jonathan Overby of Wisconsin Public Radio's live variety show Higher Ground responded to the furious dueling between tradition and innovation when he said, "Wow, they get us going, don't they? Let's all storm State Street!" Green Tea shares its humor, its knowledge of old traditions and new progressions, and most importantly its love for music. Green Tea's music has been played on National Public Radio's Simply Folk with Judy Rose. Green Tea also performed on Wisconsin Public Radio's live variety show Higher Ground with Jonathan Overby, and their music has been featured in the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point's production of Martin McDonagh's play The Cripple of Inishmaan. Plus, their live shows have been causing a stir in venues and festivals across the state of Wisconsin. John, an English professor and an outstanding "hands" player (Who needs flutes and whistles when you can blow into your hands for free?), couldn't fully escape his musician father's classical training and jazz-playing influence. So, when John's clarinet died and returned to live a double life as a pennywhistle and a keyless Irish flute, listeners still hear the resonance of "classical jazz."

Corinne, a professor of religious studies, lived two years in Ireland where she spent much of her time with musically inclined friends, learning songs, and hiking around the countryside. She also lived in Berkeley where she teamed up with silver-voiced Patty Ingham to form a duo called Gaels Just Wanna Have Fun. Now she entrances crowds with an unsurpassed energy as the lead singer of Green Tea.

Trevor, the percussive guitar-playing fool-they call him brilliant (as in "brilliant fool")-he drives Green Tea's music with innovative chord progressions and rhythms that will make old tunes new again. "A brilliant arranger, writer, and innovator, Trevor is the heart (well, the earlobe anyway) and founder of the band," says John Coletta.

Fritha was introduced to Celtic music by her dear friend Betsy, and they used to played "Home with the Girls in the Morning" on fiddle until the sun would come up over Lake Michigan. Along with Betsy and friends, Fritha formed a traditional band called Roche-A-Cri in 1999. She now puts on a fiddle frenzy mixing traditional songs with improvised Green Tea licks. David, Green Tea's mandolin player, combines a librarian's knowledge of traditional music with dynamic improvisational skills. And, he is a "far out" dude, spending every waking moment (except during Packers games) pondering the mysteries of the cosmos, pausing now and then to teach astronomy and physics to college students. The band's most diverse musician, his influences include Celtic, bluegrass, Brazilian, Eastern European, Middle Eastern, and Yiddish traditions.

Green Tea released its first album All Ages in September of 2004.

Some of their performances have included special guest Cody Hunter on the Highland bagpipes and the small pipes. Cody joined the Madison (Wisconsin) Pipes and Drums last year and has competed with them in the Wisconsin Scottish Highland Games. He took 2nd place for the individual competition in 2005.

THE PRESS

"Green Tea is a spectacular blend of progressive Celtic, Irish folk, and grass roots sound that is invigorating and inviting to any avid music fan. Their sound enhances the feeling within you and opens your ears to a new world of music that will surely set your feet dancing on any open floor."
Jordan Kaiser - Mission Coffee House

"Green Tea was a pleasure to work with, very professional and prepared. Fun show and fun people!"
Gabe Allan Graham - Recording Studio Owner

"…All Ages creates a mystical journey for listeners, transporting them to the Emerald Isle and conjuring up images of rolling countryside, humble peasants, and Lord of the Dance."
Patrick Stutz - Rick's Cafe