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Artist: Green Tea
Album: Synergy
Year: 2009
Per Answers.com, synergy is defined as “the interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual.” Green Tea’s “Synergy” is more than worthy of its chosen title noun, as five diverse Wisconsin-based musicians have combined forces to affect a Celtic infusion of five songs rooted in rock, pop, folk, jazz, and funk. Moreover, this compilation is deserving of adjectives as well, like dynamic, unexpected, concise yet all-encompassing.
The album wails into being with “Shafted”, a multi-faceted, well-written and exemplarily played tribute to coal miners who lost their lives in an accident during the 1980s. The Irish jig speed is a slam-dance soft-shoe lament in full Technicolor whistle. Switch gears to song two for an on-the-farm in Killarney at daybreak teaser with “Trad Set”, where the fiddle does shine. A low tone on the piano comes at the midpoint, and there’s Jazzy familiarity in those keys somehow. Surprise! You’ve been led into nothing less than an awe-inspiring rendition of “Locomotive Breath” where piano and flute and fiddle fuel an unstoppable pace. “Tell Me Ma” is an eight minute, six second collaborative exhibition of controlled mayhem, and “Rakes of Kildare” is the sound straw the breaks the camel’s back for anyone sitting at home listening to this CD. The final two songs offer a taste of the band live from the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis, and the temptation to attend the next nearest performance.
Chad Conway plays piano, keyboards, accordion, and melodic. Drummer Sean McCue sets the pace. Whether guitar, bodhran or djembe, Trevor Roark makes himself heard. Hannah L’Herault is fiddle master supreme, and the mesmerizing John Coletta is a phenomenon of whistles, flutes, vocals…and when live on stage, his hands, but that is another article in itself. Besides, this CD is waiting online at CD Baby for you to enjoy at your leisure with a nice hot cup of Green Tea.
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Dionne Charlet is a freelance writer based in Greater New Orleans. She is a contributing writer for Where Y’at Magazine and reviews music for Marc Gunn’s Celtic MP3s Music Magazine. Dionne runs the Cast Aways Open Theatre Troupe and performs with her fellow Cast Aways volunteers at Ren faires, sci-fi cons, charity venues and festivals throughout the Gulf Coast and beyond. Mrs. Charlet also works as an Outreach Coordinator for the Humane Society of Louisiana. You can contact Dionne at SHIATARA@AOL.com.
