Pink Martini w/ China Forbes

Tonight on Fridays Live, SFJAZZ presents the legendary Pink Martini, fronted by the dynamic vocalist China Forbes. The self-described “little orchestra” is known for their rollicking cross-genre mix of classical, jazz, and old-fashioned pop. In what has become an SFJAZZ tradition, they return with their infectiously joyous, dance-friendly takes on classic holiday music to make your season swing. Formed in 1994 by pianist Thomas Lauderdale in Portland, Oregon, the group has built a monstrous fan base through performances in settings ranging from the Cannes Film Festival and the Grand Opening of Los Angeles’ Walt Disney Concert Hall, to late night television with David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Jay Leno, and Jools Holland. Most recently, they released a pair of EPs recorded in conjunction with Portland pianist/singer Jimmie Herrod and vocalist Edna Vazquez.

Retro without basking in kitsch, Pink Martini bypasses nostalgia by recreating a cosmopolitan past that never quite existed.
PopMatters

ABOUT PINK MARTINI
Pound for pound, no other band does what Pink Martini does. With the combined power of a dozen musicians, the self-described “little orchestra” performs a rollicking cross-genre mix of classical, jazz, and old-fashioned pop The Washington Post called “rich, hugely approachable, utterly cosmopolitan yet utterly unpretentious... it seems to speak to just about everybody.” The return with their infectiously joyous, dance-friendly takes on classic holiday music to make your season swing.

Formed in 1994 by pianist Thomas Lauderdale in Portland, Oregon, the group has built a monstrous fan base through performances in settings ranging from the Cannes Film Festival and the Grand Opening of Los Angeles’ Walt Disney Concert Hall, to late night television with David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Jay Leno, and Jools Holland and even a video greeting to the astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

Fronted by the dynamic vocalist China Forbes, Pink Martini has performed with over 50 of the world’s great orchestras and recorded 15 full-length albums and EPs on Lauderdale’s own Heinz imprint, collaborating with Japanese vocal star Saori Yuki’s 1969 album and 2014’s Dream a Little Dream in partnership with The Von Trapps. Most recently, they released a pair of EPs recorded in conjunction with Portland pianist/singer Jimmie Herrod and vocalist Edna Vazquez.