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Tea Cup Gin

The members of Tea Cup Gin share a passion for crafting original musical cocktails under the influence of an eclectic blend of early 20th century genres (deco era jazz standards, tin pan alley classics, ragtime & delta blues, torch, chanson, cabaret, bossa, tango, & show tunes). The band takes an authentic yet unconventional approach to the great American jazz tradition, stirring together original melodies and lyrics, served up via two blazing acoustic guitars, impassioned vocals, dynamic upright bass & percussion, with occasional guests on trombone, trumpet, violin, sax, & more. Why the name “Tea Cup Gin”? During prohibition, speakeasies served bootleg gin in ordinary tea cups to hide what was inside. Although the band’s original songs may look innocent enough from the outside, you’ll soon taste a deliciously intoxicating blend of unexpected ingredients. So “Tea Cup Gin” evokes vintage jazz, while being catchier than saying “you can’t judge a book by its cover.”

Tea Cup Gin: Underground Love

Read "Underground Love" reviewed by James Nadal

by James Nadal
August 7, 2015

Since its inception in Paris by inimitable guitarist Django Reinhardt in the 1930's, gypsy swing, or “jazz manouche," has been performed within defined parameters, though there has always been ample room for improvisation and invention. Tea Cup Gin, on its debut release Underground Love, has found a niche playing their hybrid form of gypsy swing or hot jazz by integrating sultry jazz vocals into a smoking rhythm section, while maintaining the integrity this music requires.Expanding upon the two ...

“Tea Cup Gin’s debut album Underground Love is a glorious crossroads of jazz noir, tin pan, and furious fingerstyle blues, fueled by impassioned vocals, with a dash of latin rhythm to spice up the mix!” —Relix Magazine & Jambands.com “Tea Cup Gin did a fabulous job entertaining a sellout crowd of 6,000 runners at the Tar Heel 10 Miler race in Chapel Hill.” —Endurance Magazine & Chapel Hill Weekly “Tea Cup Gin performed at a large Market Mixer event that my company planned and hosted for The Knot.com. They were friendly, professional and wonderful to work with! Throughout the entire planning process, Tea Cup Gin was so enthusiastic about performing and were incredibly easy to work with