Jeff Martin grew up in Windsor, Ontario, just across the Detroit River from the home of proto-punk and the Motown sound; he was also influenced by his blues-loving father. He formed the Tea Party with multi-instrumentalists Stuart Chatwood (bass, keyboards, mandolin and harmonium) and Jeff Burrows (drums, percussion). Martin himself plays guitars, sitar, hurdy gurdy and harpguitar. Consequently, the trio's sound marries rock with elements of Middle Eastern, Celtic and Mediterranean music. Their 1993 album, Splendor Solis, sold over one million copies in Canada; The Edges of Twilight followed, trailed in 1997 by Transmission.