Friday, September 21
Cabaret Orchestra/
Chico World Music Festival
Pink Martini
LAXSON AUDITORIUM | 7:30 p.m.$30 Premium | $25 Adult
$23 Senior | $20 Student/Child
"Rich, hugely approachable music, utterly cosmopolitan, yet utterly unpretentious." — The Washington Post
Somewhere between a 1930s Cuban dance orchestra, a classical chamber music ensemble, a Brazilian marching street band, and Japanese film noir is the 12-piece Pink Martini. Part language lesson, part Hollywood musical, the Portland, Oregon-based "little orchestra" performed at Laxson Auditorium last year to a sold-out crowd, and is back again for a second, in-demand performance as part of the Chico World Music Festival.
Pink Martini is like a romantic Hollywood musical of the 1940s or 50s — but with a global modern perspective. They bring melodies and rhythms from different parts of the world together to create something which is new and beautiful — cross-cultural vignettes of music combined with stylistic entertainment. Equally at home performing its romantic, multi-lingual repertoire on concert stages and in smokey bars, Pink Martini draws a wildly diverse crowd.
"We're kind of like musical archaeologists, bringing melodies and rhythms from different parts of the world together to create something which is modern," says founder Thomas M. Lauderdale. "It's like an urban musical travelogue . . . and I think as citizens of the world and in a sense as musical ambassadors for the United States, we must always strive to study the languages, customs, and histories of other countries. We're very much an American band, but we spend a lot of time abroad, in Europe, in Turkey, in Lebanon and therefore have the opportunity to demonstrate that Americans are indeed serious about engaging in a dialogue with the rest of the world."
"One of our goals is to make music which has broad appeal to people, no matter who they are or where they come from. We play the same set of music wherever we go, whether it's in a small farming community in Oregon or in France or Turkey or with a symphony orchestra. Music should be like a wonderful dinner party. I don't want to always sit next to people who share my opinions. I think each of us wants a hugely diverse tapestry of influences in our lives. That's what makes life much more interesting. Every day becomes an adventure."
Pink Martini was created in 1994 by Lauderdale, a classically trained pianist to play at political fundraisers for progressive causes such as civil rights, affordable housing and public broadcasting. Lauderdale met China Forbes, Pink Martini's "diva next door" lead vocalist, when the pair was at Harvard. He was studying history and literature while she was studying painting, English literature and theatre. Late into the night in their college dormitory on the Harvard campus, Forbes would sing Verdi and Puccini arias while Lauderdale accompanied her on piano and their creative collaboration blossomed. Three years later, Lauderdale called Forbes who was living in New York City, where she'd been writing songs and playing guitar in her own folk-rock project, and asked her to join Pink Martini. They began to write music and lyrics together for the band, and their first song "Sympathique," or "Je ne veux pas travailler" (I don't want to work) became a huge hit in France.
The ensemble made its European debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 1998 and in the years following toured throughout Europe (including France, the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland and Greece), Turkey, Taiwan, Lebanon and the United States.
Since making its orchestral debut with the Oregon Symphony Orchestra in 1999 under the direction of Norman Leyden, Pink Martini has performed with symphony orchestras across the country. Orchestral performances include four nights with the Boston Pops in 2005 and multiple concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, including three nights with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra in 2000, two nights with the Los Angeles Philharmonic on a co-bill with Sergio Mendes in 2002 and two nights headlining with the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 2005.
In October 2003, Pink Martini performed at the grand opening of the Los Angeles Philharmonic's new Frank Gehry designed Walt Disney Concert Hall. They were invited back to play two sold-out performances for the hall's first New Year's Eve celebration in 2003 and returned for two more sold-out shows on New Year's Eve 2004. Other appearances include Late Night with Conan O'Brien, the opening party of the New York Museum of Modern Art, the Kennedy Center, and the William Morris Agency's 100th birthday celebration with soul legend, Al Green.
Pink Martini's debut album, Sympathique, was released independently on the band's own label, Heinz Records (named after Lauderdale's dog), and has sold over 700,000 copies worldwide. Nominated for "Song of the Year" and "Best New Artist" in France's Victoires de la Musique Awards, Sympathique has gone Platinum in France and Gold in Switzerland, Greece and Turkey.
Pink Martini released its highly-anticipated second album, Hang on Little Tomato, in October 2004 on Heinz Records in the United States and Naive Records across Europe. The album has sold over 475,000 copies worldwide and gone Gold in France, Canada, Greece and Turkey.
Now with their third release Hey Eugene! Pink Martini is cementing their reputations as the world's most entertaining little orchestra.
If you enjoy this orchestra, you might enjoy:
Tower of Power
Global Drum Project
Zap Mama
Steve Earle
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy