The Jasmine Tea name was christened in a study hall back in DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, NJ by three of the original members; Bob Stritch, Michael Strong, and Rich DeClemente. There was no flaming pie, no vision, just someone drinking Jasmine Tea. The journey began in New Jersey but has since travelled the East coast from Marth's Vineyard to Florida. Their music touches on a variety of genres so it’s hard to say what defines them. Some of the songs are of the singer/songwriter variety with catchy melodies and some songs lean on retro roots rock with bluesy guitar riffs. Check out the guitar riff in “Hauling That Cross” or “Having Too Much Love” and you’ll definitely hear the blues influence. Contrast that with the beautiful vocals on “Audrey” with its strings and lead on a classical guitar and you’ll discover both sides of Jasmine Tea. And then there's the dog song, “My One Best Friend”, that was chosen to open the New York City Dog Film Festival (who knew there was a film festival about dogs?). Their most popular song is “Just A Little” with over 40,000 streams in the first two months of its release. That song firmly sits in the singer-songwriter category.

What makes their music so varied and interesting is that each of the four members have different influences. Rich DeClemente, on drums, studied jazz in college but would be just as likely to listen to Frank Sinatra or Herb Albert and then play drum fills by Steve Gadd from Steely Dan. Michael Strong also studied music in college and lists Jimmy Page, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and the R&B of Curtis Mayfield as influences. Bob Stritch (aka Bones) is more of a James Taylor or Bruce Cockburn guy. Bassist Bob Short (aka The Babe) credits The Beatles as his first influence but is quick to say he likes the current day Indie music from Bombay Bicycle Club, fanclubwallet, and Backseat Lovers.
So travel with Jasmine Tea on a musical excursion into the rhythm and rhyme of elegance. They are a song band, a quartet of one, honed to each other's sonar in pursuit of a simple mission: make good songs.