about the artist
Sean Hurwitz
I had my first experience playing a musical instrument at age 7, when I started taking piano lessons. Though, it was my introduction to the movie “Back to the Future” that ignited my desire for a totally different instrument. After watching Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) rock out on a Gibson ES- 345 electric guitar to “Johnny Be Good” (Chuck Berry), I knew that I was meant to pick up my own guitar and perform live in venues all over the world.
My parents bought me my first guitar not long after I expressed this desire to play, and my father taught me my first few chords.
Over the ensuing years, I continued to teach myself guitar, while also being given the opportunity to learn about producing successful live shows. Years later, by age 21, I become quite the popular audio engineer and stage tech in Israel. While working closely with all the great Israeli artists at that time (Hadag Nachash, Monica Sex, Barry Sacharof to name a few), I never forgot my original dream, which was to play and perform music for a living.
At age 23, after a terrorist attack in Israel affected me very deeply, I decided that I couldn’t afford to waste another moment and moved to LA to follow that dream.
I paid my dues and worked my way up the LA music scene while playing with many unsigned solo artists & bands. It was during this time that I met my good friend and drummer Randy Cooke, who eventually helped me get my first signed artist gig with Singer Songwriter Anna Nalick. I then joined Nalick on the road while she promoted her second Studio Album “Shine”. Randy also brought me on with Smash Mouth in 2011 when the guitar spot became available.
Over the years, I’ve also had the pleasure of sharing both stage and studio with many artists including Enrique Iglesias, Nick Carter, Smash Mouth, Gin Blossoms, Chris Wallace, Ferras, Judith Hill and many more. In addition to being a live musician, I’ve also written, produced & recorded hundreds upon hundreds of songs (since 2007) that are constantly being licensed to TV, Film and Radio use worldwide.
My goals these days are to take what I know and what I’ve learned and share it with the next generation of artists/musicians. Whether it be through my YouTube videos or one on one mentoring, I want to do what so many wonderful people did for me in my career and help other musicians and artists find long lasting success in this crazy music world of ours.
Jeff formed the Tea Party with his lifelong friends, Stuart Chatwood and Jeff Burrows in 1990 after many years of playing in bands together throughout their childhood. With a career spanning over 30 years and 8 major-label releases, The Tea Party have successfully gained the attention of fans on a worldwide level, as well as touring a countless number of times throughout Canada, the United States, Europe and Australia. Much of the band’s success can be attributed to their phenomenal stage presence and impeccable artistry and musicianship with a wide variety of instruments and sound textures; the trio’s sound draws heavily on the rock and blues of the 1970s, as well as displaying some psychedelic influences with elements of Middle Eastern, Celtic and Mediterranean music. As a result, The Tea Party are often compared to Led Zeppelin and Martin’s appearance, voice and singing style has drawn comparisons to that of Jim Morrison.
Jeff has carved out a distinctive and successful career for himself as a solo artist, various other side projects, and as an acclaimed and highly sought-after producer.
He has a hunger for knowledge of art, history, the esoteric, music and melody, that has led him to live and experience exotic places such as Egypt, Turkey, Prague, Italy, Ireland and now Australia where he calls home. Either with the Tea Party or as a solo artist, Jeff has enjoyed huge success touring Canada and Australia extensively and the breadth of Europe & The Middle East including the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Turkey and Lebanon. His legions of fans from all around the world have proved to be long lasting, dedicated and very vocal on social media to have him perform in their countries. A Jeff Martin show is one that moves the audience to realms like no other. Many have likened a Jeff Martin acoustic show as ‘a religious experience’ that stays with them forever.