From live song requests to conga lines: Pink Martini brings a collaborative, intimate performance to the PAC
The applause of welcome calmed down, and the theater immediately filled with sound: a single, soaring note that silenced the audience. Then flourishes of piano, smooth percussion and underlying stand-up bass stepped in as support. The polished perfection of the band was obvious, and every instrument blended together effortlessly. It was clear from the opening number, “Amado Mio,” that the band has perfected their craft.
Pink Martini, the band that boasts a twelve-musician orchestra, put on a show at the Performing Arts Center (PAC) on March 10 for a benefit presented by the Rotary Club of San Luis Obispo de Tolosa. Pink Martini’s songs were revealed to have been inextricably tied to numerous precious memories of loved ones and good times, and audience members had the perfect opportunity to share their gratitude.
China Forbes, the long-time lead singer of the band and newly crowned winner of the Ella Fitzgerald Award, led the show with pianist Thomas Lauterdale. Throughout the night, Forbes flawlessly performed in multiple languages, including Spanish, French, Russian, Croatian, English and Italian.
Founded by Lauterdale in 1994, Pink Martini was originally meant to provide musical entertainment for attendees of his political fundraisers as he ran for office in Portland, Oregon.
He found that, while the fundraisers were for a good cause, the music just wasn’t right. Lauterdale’s objective was to provide attendees with music that was universally enjoyable to every type of person, regardless of their political affiliation or background. Fans of classical music, jazz or old-fashioned pop should feel right at home with this group’s sound.
“If the United Nations had a house band in 1962, hopefully, we’d be that band,” Lauterdale said on Pink Martini’s website.
Since their formation, Pink Martini has released music sung in 25 different languages. Forbes can sing in almost 20 languages, although she does learn some lyrics phonetically, according to an interview from the San Luis Obispo Tribune.
As if the poise and talent of the band did not suffice, they operated with the utmost grace and respect for their fellow bandmates. Every musician had their chance to shine, be it Nichaloas Crosa’s violin solo complete with a single spotlight, or the solo vocals and accompanying percussion of Timothy Nishimoto on “Donde Estas, Yolanda?” Their sound is borne of just the instruments themselves, no electronic manipulation. It came across as one single unit: crisp and clear.
To provide the audience with context, Forbes translated lyrics before the song was played, while Lauterdale, to the audience’s delight and laughter, quickly changed the vinyls he had set up for display to represent the accurate album. Lauterdale and Forbes transitioned between songs with charismatic banter, providing context behind the band’s biggest hits as well as their recent successes
Before launching into their biggest hit, “Sympathique,” Forbes described how they released their first song at the perfect time. The lyrics of the chorus — “I don’t want to work, I don’t want to lunch, I just want to forget, and then I smoke” — were chanted in the streets of France by striking French workers, which launched the single to success.
The international reach that Pink Martini has has allowed them to collaborate with a slew of talented artists, like guest singer Edna Vazquez. The band has also toured around the world, appearing in famous venues like the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall and the L’Olympia Theatre.
Before intermission, Lauterdale asked audience members to come up to the stage during the break and write which song they would most prefer the band to perform and why. At the end of intermission, he said, he would collect the papers, read them, and choose the requests with the most compelling appeals.
The second half of the show was driven by a palpable feeling of shared love. “Hang on Little Tomato” was performed in memory of an audience member’s late mother, who used to sing the song while cleaning the house. “Que Sera Sera” was chosen at the request of a mother and her eight-year-old son because she had always told him that “they did it best.”
“At Last” by Etta James, a song the band had never played before, was requested by a birthday girl. After a brief discussion with guitarist Dan Faehnle regarding what key to play in, Forbes launched into song, the band joining in unison behind her.
Aside from the improvised lyrics — “San Luis Obispo, we return to you, you are ours at last!” — the refined quality of the band’s performance was indistinguishable from the rest of the set.
“Hey Eugene!” was another popular request (“I’ve been that skinhead friend!”). Forbes joked about writing the comedic song about a man she met in a bar — one who she was clearly not over, as she is still singing the song 20 years later.
Another humorous song about a man met in a bar, co-written by Forbes’ sister, Maya Forbes, the rousing “Dosvedanya Mio Bombino” was requested because Lauterdale came out on stage with a knapsack on his back.
The epic encore of the night came in the form of “Brazil,” a bouncy, upbeat song that could only be celebrated with one big conga line. As the song played on, the audience got the chance to dance by the front of the stage where Forbes stood smiling, waving and serenading those who danced by.
The audience’s intimate knowledge of and personal connections to the band’s many hits was evident. The openness of the band and their invitation for audience collaboration formed a feeling of intimacy and inclusion, the very reason Lauterdale wanted to create a band in the first place.
Having just finished their 2023 Sunshine Tour, Pink Martini will continue on from San Luis Obispo down the west coast, traveling the U.S. for the first half of the year, then taking their tour internationally.
Their newest studio album, which will be their 8th solo album, is set to release later this year. During the first half of 2023, Pink Martini’s founder, Thomas Lauterdale, as well as China Forbes, will both be releasing personal projects. For more information about Pink Martini’s upcoming shows, past successes and the lives of their accomplished musicians, visit pinkmartini.com.
