Singer Songwriters of Modern Folk Music,
Jasmine Tea began in a study hall at DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, NJ, when Bob Stritch, Michael Strong, and Rich DeClemente needed a band name, and someone happened to be drinking jasmine tea. From that simple moment, the group grew into a project that has traveled the East Coast from Martha’s Vineyard to Florida, blending singer‑songwriter storytelling with retro roots rock and blues‑leaning guitar work.
Their sound is intentionally hard to pin down. Tracks like “Hauling That Cross” and “Having Too Much Love” showcase their blues influence, while “Audrey” highlights the opposite side of their palette — warm vocals, strings, and classical guitar. They even carved out a niche with their dog songs: “My One Best Friend” opened the 2022 NYC Dog Film Festival, and “MacGregor the Scot” premieres in the 2023 edition. Their most‑streamed track, “Just A Little,” hit over 45,000 plays in its first two months.
The band’s range comes from the members’ wildly different influences. Rich DeClemente, a jazz‑trained drummer, might be listening to Sinatra, Herb Alpert, or Steve Gadd grooves. Michael Strong pulls from Jimmy Page, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Curtis Mayfield. Bob Stritch (Bones) leans toward James Taylor and Bruce Cockburn, while bassist Bob Short (The Babe) grew up on The Beatles and now champions modern indie acts like The Shins, fanclubwallet, and The Backseat Lovers.
Together, they form a quartet tuned to each other’s instincts — a song‑first band chasing elegance, rhythm, and honest storytelling. Jasmine Tea isn’t about genre boxes; it’s about making good songs and following wherever the music leads.
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Jasmine Tea hits me in the same place, when I was young discovering The Beatles and Cat Stevens, James Taylor — that space where good songs matter more than anything else. They move from bluesy grit to folk. Four musicians with different influences, locked in, chasing the song and melody. Jasmine Tea reminds me why I love music: real players, real stories, and songs that stay with you.
-Rob | The INDIE Musician
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