Pink Martini

Pink Martini was founded in 1994 by pianist Thomas Lauderdale in Portland, Oregon. Lauderdale, who had a background in politics, created the band as a remedy to the loud and uninspiring music often found at fundraisers. He envisioned a group that could cross diverse genres like classical, Latin, traditional pop, and jazz to appeal to a wider audience. The following year, he invited China Forbes, a colleague from Harvard University, to join as a lead vocalist. Their debut single, “Sympathique,” released in 1997, garnered a nomination for Song of the Year at France’s Victoires de la Musique Awards.

The band is known for its multilingual repertoire, with members studying various languages and music styles from different global regions. China Forbes, despite being monolingual, performs in many languages. This approach allows Pink Martini to present a “musical travelogue,” moving from a samba parade in Rio de Janeiro to a 1930s French music hall. The group typically features 10-12 musicians and performs its diverse music on concert stages and with symphony orchestras globally.

Pink Martini made its European debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 1997 and its orchestral debut in 1998 with the Oregon Symphony. They have performed with over 50 orchestras worldwide, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the Boston Pops, the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center, and the BBC Concert Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall in London. Important appearances include the grand opening of the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles and performances at Carnegie Hall. In its twentieth year, Pink Martini was inducted into both the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame and the Oregon Music Hall of Fame.