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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Pink Martini's album was released in 1998, but I just received it as a gift, and haven't stopped playing it since! The two main vocalists on the album are fantastic, and in particular, their version of Que Sera, Sera will finally erase all your memories of Doris Day's saccharine performance. The rhythm is great, the selection of songs eclectic (covering French, Brazilian, Spanish and American), and the orchestration terrific. I defy anyone to dislike it!
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
While the cocktail lounge fad has seen more than a few musicians climb aboard as a career move, the members of Pink Martini are no bandwagon-riding aficionados. Fronted by pianist Thomas Lauderdale, Pink Martini is the real article--a band that approaches the music with unwavering seriousness yet never forgets the fun at the heart of it. Sympathique, the band's debut album reveals an incredibly diverse musical vocabulary on the part of frontman Lauderdale. And what singer China Forbes lacks in range and dynamics, she more than compensates for in attack, approach, and a clear understanding of the material. While most of the songs are upbeat, in the hands of Lauderdale and Forbes, "Qué será será," with its dark atmospherics should be rechristened "Qué será noir."
53 of 56 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
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 is their debut CD, and as far as I know the only one. It 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. I'd love to see this group perform live. They are clearly a bunch of clever, literate, talented, sophisticated, fun-loving, worldly people. I thank them for creating a delightful CD.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Sympathique, fantastique!
Love it. Everytime I play any of the Pink Martini CDs (I now own 4) I feel like I'm in a movie.
Published 9 months ago by watts where
Sent as a gift
Having liked Pink Martini myself, I sent this to my sister in law. It was delivered in good time and quality and she also likes it.
Published on 29 May 2010 by Mr. B. Hawkins
Pieces of Manhattan Transfer re-discovered ?
Wonderful tunes and beautiful tones. I like this Pink Martini thing. They are so much better than very good. I had the good fortune of being in the crowd of their Istanbul show. Read more
Published on 14 May 2010 by rdee
Absolute perfection
A stunning combination of the old and the new performed with the highest quality of musicianship. You just have to listen to the every detail of each track. Read more
Published on 5 Nov 2009 by John Porter
The Title Says it All
This album is superb. If you are having friends for dinner, or just want a little background music that isn't annoying, then this CD is for you. Read more
Published on 13 April 2009 by S Knight
I fell in love with China Forbes when they performed in Sydney!
When Pink Martini opened the Sydney Festival this year I fell in love with China Forbes at least as a singer. This disc contains much that they performed & do so well. Read more
Published on 31 Oct 2008 by Mr. DAVID Geer
Fabulous
I bought this having bought 'Hang on little Tomato' and was not disappointed. It's a fantastic album, which combines a range of musical styles with inventive interpretations and... Read more
Published on 23 May 2006 by Cath B
Pink Martini -the must underated band around
I have recently ordered a second copy of this CD as I wore the first one out. Since purchasing this CD and Hang on Little Tomato, I have seen Pink Martini live twice and just... Read more
Published on 1 May 2006 by Y. M. Batten
OK
This one left me a little cold, which was a surprise as I was expecting to love it. The music is relatively well executed. Read more
Published on 18 Feb 2005 by Nasher
Not just sympatique but MAGNIFIQUE...
I got interested in Pink Martini after I bought the first Buddha Bar cd. It was feat. "La Soledad" a tango ballad which I immediately fell in love with. Read more
Published on 5 Aug 2003 by "maria03"
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