Pink Martini

Infobox musical artist
Name = Pink Martini

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Img_capt = Pink Martini at the Oregon Zoo.
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Origin = Portland, Oregon, United States
Genre = Jazz, latin, lounge music, classical, others
Years_active = 1994–present
Label = Heinz (USA), Wrasse (UK)
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.pinkmartini.com/ pinkmartini.com]
Current_members = Thomas Lauderdale (artistic director)
China Forbes
Robert Taylor
Gavin Bondy
Paloma Griffin
Brian Davis
Derek Rieth
Martin Zarzar
Phil Baker
Timothy Nishimoto
Maureen Love
Past_members = Doug Smith
Jonas Tauber
David Eby
John Wager
Richard Rothfus

Pink Martini is a "little orchestra" [http://www.pinkmartini.com/about/pm_about.html About Pink Martini] from their official website] from Portland, Oregon, formed in 1994 by pianist Thomas M. Lauderdale. They blend such diverse genres of music as Latin, lounge, classical, and jazz. Their music has often been described as "vintage music", a descriptive which reflects the content, style and period inspiring many of their songs.

History

Originally brought together to play political functions in Portland, Pink Martini made its European debut at the Cannes Film Festival. Leading up to 2003, they toured several countries, including France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Switzerland, Monaco, Greece, Turkey, Peru, Taiwan, Lebanon and the United States, performing either by themselves or accompanied by various orchestras. The songs' lyrics involve different languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese and even Arab and Modern Greek.

Pink Martini's debut album, "Sympathique", was released on Pink Martini's own label, Heinz Records in 1997. Over 1.3 million copies of the record have been sold worldwide. [" [http://www.portlandtribune.com/features/story.php?story_id=117899914494122200 "Make mine Martini"] ", "Portland Tribune", retrieved May 15 2007.] The song of the same name is also featured on Putumayo World Music "World Lounge" CD.

In October 2004, the group released its second album, "Hang on Little Tomato". In the transition from its first to its second album, guest-singer Pepe Raphael left to concentrate on his other band, Pepe and the Bottle Blondes. Lead singer China Forbes continued to write songs with Lauderdale, helping the band go in a more original direction.POV-statement|date=February 2008

Pink Martini songs appear in such films as "In the Cut", "Nurse Betty", "Josie and the Pussycats", "Tortilla Soup", "Shanghai Kiss" and "Mr. & Mrs. Smith", and have been used on television shows such as "Dead Like Me", "The Sopranos" and "The West Wing", among othersFact|date=February 2008. The song "No Hay Problema" is included as background/setup music for Microsoft's Windows Server 2003 and was also used as the background/setup music for an early build of Windows Longhorn, now known as Windows Vista.Fact|date=February 2008

On New Year's Eve 2005, Pink Martini performed live at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall in Portland, Oregon. This performance was aired live on National Public Radio's "Toast of the Nation", and was recorded for a live DVD and later broadcast on US public broadcasting and French television.Fact|date=February 2008

Because Pink Martini has a larger-than-average membership, the group had trouble finding venues in other cities to play. With the help of a friend, Norman Leyden, it started performing with various orchestras across the nation, thus building its fan-base. On June 1, 2007, the band appeared on the long-running BBC Two "Later with Jools Holland" TV music program. In mid-September 2007, the group returned to the Hollywood Bowl for three performances that included guest performers Carol Channing and Henri Salvador.

On June 14, 2007, Pink Martini performed on Late Show with David Letterman, performing "Hey Eugene". [ [http://sharetv.org/shows/late_show_with_david_letterman/episodes/14x163 Late Show with David Letterman - 14x163 John Cusack, Pink Martini, Turkey Gobbling Champions - shareTV.org ] ]

For New Years Eve 2008, Pink Martini will break with their tradition of playing at Portland's Arlene Schnitzer Concert Halle to perform at the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, California with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Personnel

* China Forbes — vocals
* Thomas M. Lauderdale — piano
* Robert Taylor — trombone
* Gavin Bondy — trumpet
* Doug Smith — vibraphone and percussion
* Brian Lavern Davis — congas, drums and percussion
* Derek Rieth — percussion
* Martin Zarzar — drums
* Phil Baker — bass
* Timothy Nishimoto — vocals and percussion
* Maureen Love — harp

Touring members

* Pansy Chang — cello
* Dan Faehnle — guitar
* Claude Giron — cello
* Brant Taylor — cello
* Nicholas Crosa — violin

Discography

* "Sympathique" (1997)
* "Hang on Little Tomato" (2004)
* "Hey Eugene!" (2007)

References

External links

*imdb name|2681578, for a partial list of soundtrack appearances
* [http://www.pinkmartini.com/ Pink Martini official website]