Lightly Toasted

Pink Martini has hit our soft spot since the time we’ve been listening to them. China Forbes(Vocals) and Thomas M. Lauderdale’s(Pianist) multi-cultural families and upbringing brings forth a unique touch to their music. Having learnt many languages and music in different parts of the world also gives them an edge of immense multiculturalism. We knew most of the songs that were played but it was good to hear the background behind them all and what encouraged them to write or compose the tune. I love the Hang on little tomato song, such a song of hope and dulcet sound of La Soledad (the solitude). Music truly transcends cultures, languages, all barriers…

Watching the band live was such a privilege! The lovely D had bought tickets for us at The State Theatre where Pink Martini was performing live on Sunday night. They also kicked off the Sydney Festival this year in Hyde Park. For those in the know January is one fabulous month in sunny Sydney, you have the Festival goers, The fabulous open air cinema, Australia day, the hot weather even though am not a big fan it does force us out to waterfront vistas on sandy beaches and swimming pools and everybody is busy soaking up every bit of Sun.

Pink Martini got a write-up in our local Sydney Morning Herald. And to say the least Sunday night live was truly memorable. Tremendous performance. Here is a little about Pink Martini you might like to read up on in case you are not familiar.

Pink Martini is like a romantic Hollywood musical of the 1940s or 50s – but with a global perspective which is modern, we bring melodies and rhythms from different parts of the world together to create something which is new and beautiful.

Both China Forbes and I come from multicultural families, and all of us in the band have studied different languages and music from different parts of the world. So inevitably, because everyone in the band contributes in the writing and arranging of songs, the repertoire is wildly diverse. At one moment, you feel like you’re in the middle of a samba parade in Rio de Janeiro, and in the next moment, you are suddenly in a French music hall of the 1930s or in a palazzo in Napoli. It’s like an urban musical travelogue. 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 incredible opportunity to represent a different kind of America through our repertoire and our concerts – that is, an America which is the most heterogeneously populated country in the world – comprised of people from every country, every language, every religion. 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. My hope is that we’re creating music which can be turned up or down, and played on almost any occasion, from background music of a love affair to vacuuming around the house.

– Thomas M. Lauderdale
founder and artistic director