Artist: Pink Martini
“Ou est ma tete?” (mp3)
Release: Splendor in the Grass
Label: Heinz Records
UPC: 723721448059
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Here’s something you can take home to show mom; the fantastic and highly acclaimed Portland, Oregon group Pink Martini has been fusing the finest of high class style, period, and technique to create a wonderful and diverse catalog of original music over the past decade and a half. Think of them as a “little orchestra;” that’s how they like to be seen and the description fits. Martini creates a variety of songs in all different styles, much in the way a contemporary orchestra would, drawing on lounge chill outs, various Latin styles, old-fashioned pop, golden age Hollywood musicals, classical orchestral pieces, and a healthy dose of jazz. It really comes off as something very classy and professional without any rigidness or snobbery involved. In fact, Pink Martini reads quite the contrary and manages to capture the best ingredients from each of their different influences and blend them together in a very fun, yet smooth way.

Founded in 1994 by pianist Thomas M. Lauderdale, the group has harbored a wealth of critical praise and awards, all in celebration of their truly special dynamic. Lauderdale describes the band’s sound as “music of the world without being world music. It’s kind of like urban symphonic crossed with Cuban/Brazilian Carnival Parade.” We agree: the band was originally brought together to play upscale political functions in Portland, but expanded their lineup and took their fantastic group on the road, eventually making their European debut at the Cannes Film Festival. By 2003 they had toured France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland, Monaco, Greece, Turkey, Peru, Taiwan, Lebanon and of course the US, truly proving that their music was universally enjoyed and would be considered classic in time to come. Their world-savvy members also compose and perform their song’s lyrics in different languages including Croatian, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Arabic, and Modern Greek. Over 1.3 million copies of their debut record, releases on their own Heinz Records, Sympathique, have been sold worldwide. They picked up vocal powerhouse China Forbes on their second release (Pianist Lauderdale met Forbes while they were both studying at Harvard) and gained even more popularity, lending their music to popular television shows and movies such as The Sopranos and The West Wing amongst others. On New Year’s Eve 2005, Martini performed live at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland; the performance was aired live on NPR’s “Toast of the Nation” program and was recorded for a live DVD. They have performed on numerous noteworthy shows such as the BBC’s Later with Jools Holland and The Late Show with David Letterman and have performed at the Walt Disney Concert Hall three times on New Years Eve. Now that’s a respectable rap sheet.

As musical archeologists, Martini dig up the finest parts of the genres that have over time become universally revered and enjoyed due to a timeless nature. Pink Martini’s fourth studio album, Splendor In The Grass, encapsulates the band’s history and spirit of global collaboration and inclusivity. Comprised of nine original songs and four covers (with songs in English, Neapolitan, Italian, French and Spanish), Splendor In The Grass was recorded in the band’s hometown of Portland, and produced by Lauderdale. There’s spicy Latin groves next to beautiful vocal jazz pieces side by side with big band attitude wrapped in classic old-fashioned pop numbers. This could soundtrack almost any fun, classy party or conversely provide a great soundtrack to clean the house too; it’s the band’s universality that makes it stand out.

There’s just no denying it, Martini’s for all! Pick up a copy of Splendor In The Grass for yourself and get another for Mom; we promise she’ll love it.

Pink Martini
“Ninna nanna” (mp3)
from “Splendor in the Grass”
(Heinz Records)

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