I found myself in the perenially beautiful surroundings of The Royal Albert Hall on Monday evening for the delightful occasion of a performance by Pink Martini. This self-proclaimed "little orchestra" draws parallels with the big bands of the 1940's and 1950's, but does much more than simply play crowd-pleasing old favourites.
As well as the juicy, sherbet-dipped sing-a-longs, they infuse their offering with music of latin and oriental origin, seamlessly blending styles and forms and left me feeling as though I'd been bathed in a warm, rose-scented sea.
Their usual vocalist, the enticingly-named, China Forbes, was unwell on Monday evening, but her replacement could scarcly have been more perfect. A confident, Bette Midler-esque American blonde in an array of sweeping red gowns. She was equally at home playing the coquettish chanteuse as bawdily belting out such classics as "The Lady is a Tramp" or "Brasil"
By way of balance, Band Leader, Thomas Lauderdale, played the semi-bumbler to perfection. Stumbling comedically on his lines and apologising with classic Jewish deference.
Pink Martini are an extravagant and eclectic mix with an astounding array of musicality at their command from a trombone player who sings in fifteen languages to a Mandarin-speaking Cellist and a Peruvian percussionist. Somehow, though, they never overwhelm. Theirs is a strange recipe of intimacy served on a crystal salver. Never a wasted note, nor a careless vowel is thrown from their ship.
I adored every moment and wished it never to end. When it did, I was carried home on that rose-coloured tide and slept like a baby. Thank you, Pink Martini, until next time!
As well as the juicy, sherbet-dipped sing-a-longs, they infuse their offering with music of latin and oriental origin, seamlessly blending styles and forms and left me feeling as though I'd been bathed in a warm, rose-scented sea.
Their usual vocalist, the enticingly-named, China Forbes, was unwell on Monday evening, but her replacement could scarcly have been more perfect. A confident, Bette Midler-esque American blonde in an array of sweeping red gowns. She was equally at home playing the coquettish chanteuse as bawdily belting out such classics as "The Lady is a Tramp" or "Brasil"
By way of balance, Band Leader, Thomas Lauderdale, played the semi-bumbler to perfection. Stumbling comedically on his lines and apologising with classic Jewish deference.
Pink Martini are an extravagant and eclectic mix with an astounding array of musicality at their command from a trombone player who sings in fifteen languages to a Mandarin-speaking Cellist and a Peruvian percussionist. Somehow, though, they never overwhelm. Theirs is a strange recipe of intimacy served on a crystal salver. Never a wasted note, nor a careless vowel is thrown from their ship.
I adored every moment and wished it never to end. When it did, I was carried home on that rose-coloured tide and slept like a baby. Thank you, Pink Martini, until next time!