(edited for grammar)
Pink Martini to give free performance to Occupy PDX
on: October 12, 2011, 04:37
Thomas Lauderdale and his band, Pink Martini, have agreed to give a free performance to Occupy PDX later this month (they return from their latest tour on Oct. 21).
Pink Martini is, quite simply the best lounge/cabaret band in the world. They make you want to be dressed in a tux or a ball gown, holding a martini made with Boodle's Gin, shaken, not stirred.
They also have a decidedly leftist, political bent, and this is far from the first time they have donated their time and talent to worthy causes.
15 years ago in his hometown of Portland, Oregon, Thomas Lauderdale was working in politics, thinking that one day he would run for mayor. Like other eager beaver politicians-in-training, he went to every political fundraiser under the sun … but was dismayed to find the music at these events underwhelming, lackluster, loud and un-neighborly. Drawing inspiration from music from all over the world – crossing genres of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop – and hoping to appeal to conservatives and liberals alike, he founded the “little orchestra”Pink Martini in 1994 to provide more beautiful and inclusive musical soundtracks for political fundraisers for progressive causes such as civil rights, affordable housing, the environment, libraries, public broadcasting, education and parks.
“Pink Martini draws inspiration from the romantic Hollywood musicals of the 1940s or ‘50s … with a more global perspective. We write a lot of songs … but we also champion songs like Ernesto Lecuona’s “Andalucia”or “Amado mio”from the Rita Hayworth film “Gilda”or “Kikuchiyo to mohshimasu (My name is Kikuchiyo)”made famous in the 1960s by the great Japanese group Hiroshi Wada & His Mahina Stars. In that sense we’re a bit like musical archeologists, digging through recordings and scores of years past and rediscovering beautiful songs.”
The date has not been set yet, but they return from a tour 10/21, so probably the last week in October.
Thank you Pink Martini, and rock on Occupy Portland!
http://pinkmartini.com/media/videos/http://occupypdx.org/
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