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237 of 242 found the following review helpful:
Erudite, Mellow, Funky DelightNov 12, 2001
By Exguyparis
"exguyparis"
This is a stunning CD. It is a cohesive blend of Cuban, French, Greek, Japanese, Italian, Spanish, classical, and Brazilian music. It is a hit in Europe; one of the cuts was included on one of the trendy Parisian Hotel Costes' CDs. The music is hard to classify- Jazz? Latin? House? Retro? Whatever you want to call it, it is marvelous, sophisticated, quirky, cosmopolitan, and international. And believe it or not, the group Pink Martini comes out of Portland Oregon. The group includes 14 talented musicians, covering vocals, trumpet, trombone, violin, cello, bass, guitar, piano, and percussion. Two cuts are augmented with the addition of a string orchestra and children's choir.
This, their debut CD, was recorded in 1996-1997 in Portland. I can only offer the highest praise for this CD. Anyone, of any age, should find at least several things to love here. The first cut, Amado Mio, is a Latin groove. You will want to dance the tango or cha cha, even if you can't. The instrumental No Hay Problema is next, continuing the Spanish flavor. The next cut is what led me to the CD: Sympathique. This song could have been recorded by Edith Piaf, or Josephine Baker. However, it is an original work by the lead vocalist and the piano player of the group. It is definitely retro-light, humorous, tongue in cheek (in French, but the booklet includes a translation); I LOVE this song!
The next tune presents a remarkable plot twist. It is Que Sera Sera: yes, the song Doris Day made famous. It's the same song, but this is a twisted, chilling, haunted version. It's Doris Day meets Cirque de Soleil meets Fellini meets the Marquis de Sade. China Forbes' vocal is accompanied by an arrangement that is at once poignant, melancholic, light, discordant, tortured, wistful. This will blow your mind.
To soothe us after this alarming excursion, Pink Martini then kindly brings us to a calmer, peaceful place, thanks to a Frederick Chopin interlude, which flows into another Latin-flavored original composition, La Soledad. Chopin cleverly keeps sneaking back into the song. It's a fascinating juxtaposition. The Spanish theme continues with Donde Estas, Yolanda! Another instrumental, Andalusia, features some fine trumpet. It's a mellow, uplifting, driving piece that shows off the instrumental talents of the group. The next song, Song of the Black Lizard, in Japanese, is from the film The Black Lizard. It is sad and beautiful, and unforgettable (like the film). This work also demonstrates the power of the trumpet, this time with a Chris Botti-like chill groove.
The group stops next in Greece, with a slowed-down version of Children of Piraeus from the film Never On Sunday, which makes the song more poignant and wistful; and then cruises to Brazil with Acuarela de Brazil. The CD concludes with a reprise of Sympathique, this time called Lullaby. The tune is the same, but the mood is quite different-- full of longing, or looking back, or reminiscing.
If I had the option of giving this a multitude of stars, I would. This is an amazing work. If you have the opportunity to see this group perform live, run, don't walk. Their live concerts are amazing. They are clearly a bunch of clever, literate, talented, sophisticated, fun-loving, worldly people. I thank them for creating a delightful CD.
104 of 108 found the following review helpful:
Variety is the spice of life!Nov 27, 1999
By Tiffany Neal
When I heard Pink Martini in concert for the first time, I was entranced. After buying their CD, I proceeded to listen to it so much that I can now predict every cue in "Bolero" right on time! :) I have played the CD for quite a few of my friends, and every single one was converted. You will be too, I promise. As my title suggests, one great element of this album is its great variety in music. The songs range from lively to sexy to wistful, with styles from Latin to classical to ballad, in languages from English and Spanish to French and Greek! There is something for everyone on this CD. The rich voice of China Forbes alternates with the suave attitude of Pepe Raphael in the songs with lyrics, while brass, percussion, and of course Thomas Lauderdale's piano, dominate the others. This blend makes for a an album that's great for dancing, or for just plain listening to the beautiful music.
20 of 21 found the following review helpful:
You'll listen to this constantly for days!!!Sep 20, 2000
By EquesNiger
I had never heard of Pink Martini until a recent visit from a friend from the Bay area, and now my neighbors wish I never had! It's the only CD I have listened to for the past week. The group has a very sophisticated, cosmopolitan sound. Though they have selected a set of songs from various cultures for this CD that everyone will know and recognise, with few exceptions the performances are even more engrossing than the originals. Contrary to other performances, you can hear the excellence of all the members of the group, form the sexy, sultry voice of the female lead singer, to the chillingly moving trumpet and the transcendant piano. As the friend who introduced me to this group emphasised, you can hear the passion each performer brings to the group, and can hear the loving devotion which they hold for their instrument and its potential. Truly one of the very best musical complilations to come out in a very long time.
16 of 17 found the following review helpful:
Still one of my favorites!Jun 07, 2002
I bought this CD when it came out years ago -- frontman Thomas Lauderdale is an old friend of mine. Call me biased, but this CD is still one of my favorites! The music has universal appeal, blending big band, latin beats, campy lounge-lizard music, and classical pieces into a groovy and infectious package. I would have expected nothing less from Thomas. These songs have popped up as background music on the "Sopranos," in a Lexus commercial, and in several coffeehouses I've visited -- it's so cool to see Pink Martini getting the exposure and raves they so richly deserve!I just saw them live the other night, and they are even better in person. Unfortunately, CDs just can't record the sheer joie de vivre this group has -- they love what they do, and it shows. They opened with "Bolero," which was amazing, powerful, and breathtaking, and closed their encore with "Acuarela de Brazil," which brought people to their feet (it's hard to sit still to this music!) Those who love this CD would be happy to hear that the next CD is anticipated next year (one of the band members told me it was 2/3 in the can). They busted out a few new songs at the concert I attended, and, like "Sympathique," they ranged from lush classical renditions to clever tongue-in-cheek ditties. Pink Martini throws in a generous splash of international flavoring to create refreshingly original material (over the course of the night, lead singer China Forbes sang in Japanese, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Croatian), and finds inspiration in unexpected places. The "Song of the Black Lizard" was an homage to a Japanese drag queen; one new tune performed at the concert was inspired by a classic Heinz ketchup ad. Get this CD -- and try to see them live if you can!
12 of 12 found the following review helpful:
An Under- the- Radar MasterpieceMar 16, 2003
By James Carragher
Pink Martini comes from Portland, OR -- and it looks as if most of the residents of that great city have already reviewed the CD here. But those of us resident elsewhere probably won't stumble on Sympathique without a friend's guidance; my sister played it for me. One listen and I immediately went on line to buy what is a wonderful melange of musical styles from around the globe, superbly interpreted by Pink Martini. "Yolanda" could have come from one of Ry Cooder's trips to Havana. The overexposed "Bolero" is revitalized. "Que Sera, Sera" is starkly, then, on the final chorus, lushly uncertain, resigned, and introspective, as it was meant to be. "La Soledad" takes one back to Spanish radio's tango-tinged 60s pop -- hopelessly staid then next to the British-invasion, but wonderfully smooth and cool now. "Brazil," as expected, is samba and perhaps the weakest thing on the CD, too dramatic and weakened because, unlike most of the other vocals here, it is sung in English rather than the original language. Wonderful to hear the "Never on Sunday" theme again, in Greek, after decades, and the unique, haunting Japanese "Song of the Black Lizard" is a highlight as well. "Lullaby," one of two originals by group members Thomas Lauderdale and China Forbes, puts a beautiful and understated conclusion to this varied and consistently superb work. The kids shown roller skating by the Eiffel Tower on the cover or, in the booklet inside, on the beach are unlikely to have this in their CD players. More's the pity. Doesn't matter if you are 13 or 81, if you love and buy music, this belongs in your library.
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