Pink Martini Headshot
Report a problem with this profile
[email protected]

Pink Martini        

Jazz, Classical, Latin Musical Group; Described as a "Little Orchestra"

In 1994 in his hometown of Portland, Oregon, Thomas Lauderdale was working in politics, thinking that one day he would run for mayor. Like other eager politicians-in-training, he went to every political fundraiser under the sun but was dismayed to find the music at these events underwhelming, lackluster, loud and un-neighborly. Drawing inspiration from music from all over the world crossing genres of classical, jazz and old- fashioned pop and hoping to appeal to conservatives and liberals alike, he founded the little orchestra Pink Martini in 1994 to provide more beautiful and inclusive musical soundtracks for political fundraisers for causes such as civil rights, affordable housing, the environment, libraries, public broadcasting, education and parks.

Featuring 10-12 musicians, Pink Martini performs its multilingual repertoire on concert stages and with symphony orchestras throughout Europe, Asia, Greece, Turkey, the Middle East, Northern Africa, Australia and New Zealand, South America and North America. Pink Martini made its European debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997 and its orchestral debut with the Oregon Symphony in 1998 under the direction of Norman Leyden. Since then, the band has gone on to play with more than 50 orchestras around the world, including multiple engagements with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the Boston Pops, the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center, the San Francisco Symphony, and the BBC Concert Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall in London. Other appearances include the grand opening of the Los Angeles Philharmonics Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall, with return sold-out engagements for New Years Eve 2003, 2004, 2008 and 2011; two sold-out concerts at Carnegie Hall; the opening party of the remodeled Museum of Modern Art in New York City; the Governors Ball at the 80th Annual Academy Awards in 2008; the opening of the 2008 Sydney Festival in Australia; two sold-out concerts at Paris legendary LOlympia Theatre in 2011; and Paris fashion house Lanvins 10-year anniversary celebration for designer Alber Elbaz in 2012. Pink Martinis debut album Sympathique was released independently in 1997 on the bands own label Heinz Records (named after Lauderdales dog), and quickly became an international phenomenon, garnering the group nominations for Song of the Year and Best New Artist in Frances Victoires de la Musique Awards in 2000. Pink Martini released Hang On Little Tomato in 2004, Hey Eugene! in 2007 and Splendor In The Grass in 2009. In November 2010 the band released Joy To The Worlda festive, multi-denominational holiday album featuring songs from around the globe. Joy To The World received glowing reviews and was carried in Starbucks stores during the 2010 and 2011 holiday seasons. All five albums have gone gold in France, Canada, Greece and Turkey, and have sold well over 2.5 million copies worldwide.

In Fall 2011 the band released two albums A Retrospective, a collection of the bands most beloved songs spanning their 17-year career, which includes eight previously unreleased tracks, and 1969, an album of collaborations with legendary Japanese singer Saori Yuki. 1969 has been certified platinum in Japan, reaching #2 on the Japanese charts with the Japan Times raving the love and respect Saori Yuki and Pink Martini have for the pop tradition shines through on every track.

News


Pink Martini and the von Trapps announce new album, 'Dream a ...
Pink Martini's new album is a collaboration with the "Sound of Music" inspiration's new generation.
Pink Martini to play Wolf Trap | : Washington Blade – America's ...
Pink Martini plays on Monday night at Wolftrap's Filene Center (1645 Wolftrap Rd ., Vienna, V.A.) at 8 p.m..
New Year's Eve music picks: Pink Martini, Bass Odyssey, and the ...
Three picks from the Oregonian across genres and budgets for this year's New Year's Eve concerts.
Storm Large stirs up Pink Martini into an eccentric Portland band ...
Storm Large is the perfect moniker for Pink Martini's tall singer with the larger- than-life stage presence. The musician/playwright/actor, who was named Susan  ...

Related Speakers View all


More like Pink