TEA FOR TWO

A Tribute to Stéphane Grappelli & Yehudi Menuhin

Following the success of her acclaimed Tea for Two concerts in Western Australia, Emily Gelineau brings her heartfelt celebration of jazz violin to Tasmania for the first time.

An award-winning violinist, pianist, vocalist, composer and arranger, Emily has built a reputation for effortlessly crossing musical boundaries. A graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston on a full scholarship, she has performed internationally, won a Grammy Award as a recording musician, and developed a distinctive style that blends jazz, gypsy jazz, Latin music and contemporary influences with captivating warmth and virtuosity. Yet at the heart of this performance is the artist who inspired her journey: the legendary Stéphane Grappelli.

Sharing the stage with Emily is Hobart violinist Charlie McCarthy, author of the internationally recognised Postclassical Violin series, violinist of the long-running gypsy jazz ensemble Django's Tiger, and one of Tasmania's best-known champions of jazz violin and improvisation. Together, Emily and Charlie recreate the warmth, humour and musical chemistry that made the partnership of Stéphane Grappelli and Yehudi Menuhin so beloved.

Emily's original Tea for Two was created not simply as a concert, but as a celebration of Grappelli's extraordinary life. Through stories, humour and unforgettable music, she traces his remarkable journey from his groundbreaking collaborations with Django Reinhardt and the Quintette du Hot Club de France to performances with Oscar Peterson and many of the twentieth century's greatest musicians. Grappelli's infectious joy, relaxed virtuosity and playful spirit have shaped Emily's own musical voice, and this concert is her love letter to the violinist who showed the world that jazz violin could sing, swing and smile.

At first glance, Grappelli and Menuhin came from opposite musical worlds. One was the supreme jazz violinist; the other one of the twentieth century's greatest classical virtuosos. Yet when they met, their mutual admiration dissolved every musical boundary, producing performances full of elegance, spontaneity and unmistakable joy.

Emily's lyrical sensitivity, engaging storytelling and dazzling improvisation combine beautifully with Charlie's decades of experience in gypsy jazz and creative string playing. Their contrasting backgrounds create a musical conversation that mirrors the friendship between Grappelli and Menuhin where classical refinement meets the freedom of jazz, and every performance becomes a unique dialogue.

Expect beloved Grappelli classics, breathtaking violin duets, sparkling improvisation, fascinating stories, and the infectious energy that has made jazz violin audiences smile for generations. As Emily says, music is meant to be enjoyed by both performer and listener, and Tea for Two invites audiences into that shared experience with warmth, laughter and a few surprises along the way.

Whether you're discovering jazz violin for the first time or have loved Grappelli for decades, Emily Gelineau and Charlie McCarthy invite you to pull up a chair, pour a cup of tea, and experience an evening where classical sophistication meets the irresistible joy of swing.

Tea for Two is a celebration of friendship, musical curiosity, and the timeless magic that happens when two violins share the same conversation.

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