Pink Martini Celebrate 30-year Milestone
We headed to Woodinville on the 4th of July Saturday evening to attend Pink Martini. It has always been a pleasure to see them live and tonight would be no exception as they returned to Seattle to celebrate their 30-year milestone. The story began at Harvard University, where Thomas Lauderdale and China Forbes first crossed paths as undergraduates in the late 1980s. Years after graduation, while Forbes was pursuing a music career in New York City, Lauderdale reached out with an intriguing proposition. He had started a band in Portland, Oregon, initially conceived to play at political fundraisers, and needed a vocalist who could handle multiple languages and musical styles.
Despite the uncertainty of leaving New York’s established music scene for Portland, Forbes took the leap of faith, joining her old college friend in what would become one of music’s most fascinating success stories. Their Harvard connection blossomed into an extraordinary musical partnership that has since produced countless memorable performances and recordings in an impressive array of languages – more than 30 in total, ranging from Arabic to Japanese, Croatian to Greek, French to Spanish. This linguistic versatility, combined with their sophisticated blend of classical, jazz, pop, and world music, has become Pink Martini‘s hallmark.
The globe-trotting ensemble brought their musical feast to the picturesque Chateau Ste Michelle Winery, transforming the venue into an international music haven. Between their masterfully crafted performances, the band shared fascinating stories that added depth to their musical selections. One particularly intriguing tale revealed how their French composition “Sympathique” unexpectedly became a protest anthem in France. The song’s irreverent lyrics – “Je ne veux pas travailler, je ne veux pas déjeuner, je veux seulement l’oublier, et puis je fume” (I don’t want to work, I don’t want to lunch, I only want to forget, and smoke) – have resonated with French workers and protesters for over two decades.
China Forbes was shining bright wearing a breathtaking coral dress perfect for the warm summer night. Along with performing many songs flawlessly her personality gave warmth and joy throughout the evening. Portland’s “little orchestra,” shared a little fun with the audience as they had a dance party picking a lucky winner who received a 30-year anniversary signed poster.
Everyone was having the time of their life dancing around enjoying the music. During the encore they led a large dance line that went around the venue and came through the stage greeting Forbes and Lauderdale. Over three decades, what started as a small Portland ensemble has evolved into a global phenomenon, affectionately known as performing with symphony orchestras worldwide and bringing their multilingual, cross-cultural celebration of music to audiences across continents.
Among the evening’s many highlights was their stunning interpretation of “Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again,” an arrangement that paid homage to the iconic 1963 duet between Judy Garland and Barbra Streisand. The performance captured all the emotional depth and technical brilliance of the original while adding Pink Martini’s distinctive flair.
Another spectacular moment came when Edna Vazquez, who joined the band in 2017, took center stage for powerful renditions of “Bésame Mucho” and “Sola Soy.” Vazquez, who hails from Jalisco, Mexico – the birthplace of mariachi – brought an authentic passion and cultural richness to these Latin classics, her voice soaring with both power and nuance. Her performances added yet another layer to Pink Martini‘s already impressive multicultural tapestry. After 30 years we are all thankful they are still here to take us around the world.
