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Not long ago my partner and I had the pleasure of going to a
concert by Pink Martini, a delightfully eclectic ensemble—a “little
orchestra”—formed in the mid-1990s by pianist Thomas Lauderdale in Portland,
Oregon. Shortly afterward, he invited fellow Harvard classmate China Forbes to
join the group as its lead vocalist. Together they wrote—and continue to write—songs
that the group plays interspersed with standards and little-known pieces from a
mix of genres: classical, jazz, and pop.
Lauderdale and Forbes’ first song, “Sympathique,” was a
sensation in France, nominated as “Song of the Year” at that nation’s Victoires
de la Musique Awards. Although Lauderdale says that the group is “very much
American,” it plays all over the world. The songs are as likely to be sung in
Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, or Japanese as in English. Their concerts
are a rollicking mix of languages, moods, and rhythms.
When they played Indianapolis last month at the historic
Murat Theater (now Old National Center), the concert also included the Von
Trapps, four great-grandchildren of Captain Georg and Maria von Trapp of Sound of Music fame. The “kids,”
formerly the Von Trapp Children, are all roughly college age and produce a fine
a cappella sound, singing a mixture of old pop (ABBA), Sound of Music songs, and newer works. August, Amanda, Melanie, and
Sofia are the grandchildren of Werner von Trapp (“Kurt” in the movie). They
have also worked with a variety of orchestras, including symphonies in Atlanta,
Detroit, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Cincinnati, and the Boston Pops.
Pink Martini and the Von Trapps collaborated on a new album
this year. Titled “Dream a Little Dream,” it was released on March 4. At the
concert in Indianapolis, the group performed the title song, which listeners of
my generation associate with Cass Elliot. It was the title song of her first
solo album after the breakup of The Mamas and the Papas and was a big hit in
1968. Few remember that the song itself actually dates from about 1931 (music
by Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt, lyrics by Gus Kahn). It was first recorded
by Ozzie Nelson in February 1931 and ranks as a standard.
Pink Martini under Thomas Lauderdale’s leadership continues
to offer concerts rich in lush melodies and variety. Every one is a
celebration.
