Pink Martini: World Music Imported from Portland

While most folks were tripping over themselves to get tickets to Steve Martin, Elvis (“the real one”) Costello and K.D. Lang at the Frederik Meijer Gardens, I have been tickled pink that one of my favorite world music acts was finally booked in our region. And the venue for the debut of Pink Martini could not have been a better choice.

Pink Martini is one of those bands that when you try to define them, you end up adding in elements of other influences not covered in your standard reply.

Sure, they are world music, but that category would imply a certain organic sound pigeonholed by years of hippie compact discs sold at Starbuck checkout lanes. “Oh look dear, there is a reindeer with a UNICEF pail in its mouth being ridden by an Inuit child….” Yawn.

But Pink Martini has this unique was of blending classical tunes with national flavors creating more of a hybrid of sounds than an actual genre.

Because of their musical proficiency, when they wander and stir it up with styles ranging from jazz to American ’40/50s Pop, world beat and classical, Pink Martini’s execution is simply flawless — a musical feat generally reserved for an exclusive club of the iconic masters of any one genre.  

When they perform a tune like “Sympathique” from their debut album of the same name, you’ll be hard-pressed to believe this act is actually from Portland and not from some remote village in France. Jump to another track like “Una Notte A Napoli” and it is hard not to imagine oneself in a flamenco dance dress with a gloriously detailed fan.

And for all their musical world travels, they even have a knack for rendering something rich, beautiful and melancholy from our American songbook like my personal favorite, “Hang On Little Tomato.” It is simply the best song to play on a day when you are feeling a bit blue.

So load up the car and head out to the FMG to see Pink Martini live.  Musical acts of this caliber and song diversity don’t often stop here and this one truly deserves our entire city’s attention. It is rare and stunningly beautiful to see Pink Martini in such a wonderful setting.


Admission:  $45