Tea Leaf Green
Taught To Be Proud

GENRE: Jam Rock

Jam bands. A phenomenon that can boast a strong fan base in the USA, thanks in part to noble predecessors such as Grateful Dead, Little Feat, Allman Brothers Band who, with different approaches in the '60s and '70s, laid the foundations of this sound that heavily relies on the technical skill and imagination of the performers.

After the electronic glaciation of the '80s, in the '90s the genre saw the reemergence of interesting names such as Phish, Dave Matthews Band, String Cheese Incident, Blues Traveler, and Gov't Mule, just to mention the most famous ones.

Among the most interesting bands of the genre from the Third Millennium generation are undoubtedly Tea Leaf Green. The band is based in San Francisco (which in itself is a guarantee) and this latest studio album reveals them as a mature group, capable of writing beautiful melodies, as well as interpreting them with talent and creativity. On the other hand, the fact of presenting a studio album for a group with jam tendencies can appear contradictory: in reality, it is precisely the ability to produce good studio records and, ultimately, songs that can last, which marks the dividing line within this movement. There are many jam bands, in fact, that tend to release several live albums in a year. However, this abundance, combined with the length of the tracks, is often able to baffle even the most willing listener who wants to approach the genre. And precisely to follow this live propensity, sometimes the studio albums of jam bands are more like scripts to be developed on stage.

On the contrary, Tea Leaf Green with this “Taught To Be Proud” deliver first and foremost a beautiful page of rock music, from the initial airy and optimistic “The Garden Pt.III”, to the evocative “John Brown”, to the electric “Morning Sun”, they dominate balance and inspiration: one of those classic records that, after the last track is over, prompts you to start over in a loop.

The sound of the group is characterized and guided by the splendid piano of Trevor Garrod and the precise guitar interludes of Josh Clark. Bass and drums are entrusted respectively to Ben Chambers and Scott Rager.

Tea Leaf Green will never become famous, least of all in Europe, but it hardly matters: we await their next release.

TRACKLIST

1 THE GARDEN (PART III)

2 TAUGHT TO BE PROUD

3 RAPTURE

4 IF IT WASN'T FOR THE MONEY

5 I'VE BEEN SEEKING

6 JOHN BROWN

7 PRETTY JANE

8 5000 ACRES

9 MORNING SUN

10 RIDE TOGETHER

11 FLIPPIN' THE BIRD