Portland’s Pink Martini is celebrating their 30th anniversary and today adds to the festivities with the release of a brand-new EP, Bella ciao via Heinz Record, featuring the hypnotic focus track “Pourquoi Tu Vis.” Known for their genre-defying blend of jazz, classical, and global influences, the song captures the cinematic flair and sophistication Pink Martini has brought to stages around the world for three decades, offering fans a nod to the timeless style that has defined their career. It features the band’s China Forbes on vocals and she notes, “we first learned a Korean version of this song in Seoul, Korea to perform at the jazz festival. Then we learned about the original Spanish version by Jeanette. Over the years, we discovered that in addition to Korean and Spanish, there are versions in Flemish, French, and probably many more languages. I have now sung the song in each language, and for this release, we were excited to make the French version because we got our start in France, we adore France and singing in French, and it's just extra cool in French. The version we are releasing is wild!”
LISTEN/SHARE “POURQUOI TU VIS” HERE
PURCHASE/STREAM BELLA CIAO HERE
Pink Martini previously shared the EP’s “title track,” a song long associated with anti-fascist resistance during WWII. Bandleader Thomas Lauderdale selected the track as a timely and resonant protest anthem, reflecting the band’s commitment to both musical storytelling and cultural commentary. A highlight of their live performances, “Bella ciao” features longtime vocalist Storm Large. The EP is rounded out with an epic update to the band’s original song “Aspettami,” also featuring China Forbes on vocals, and regular Pink Martini guest vocalist Edna Vazquez performing the enchanting “Destino,” a song written for a 1940s collaboration between Walt Disney and Salvador Dali, recorded and released for the first time on this EP.
WATCH/SHARE “BELLA CIAO” LIVE PERFORMANCE VIDEO HERE
Pink Martini’s live performances have earned worldwide acclaim, so it’s only fitting that touring plays a central role in their 30th anniversary celebration. Known for blending a wide range of musical styles into one unforgettable experience, the band continues to captivate audiences across the globe. In 2024, they brought their show to North America, Europe, and the Middle East — and show no signs of slowing down. This spring, they return to Europe, followed by a summer North American run that includes standout dates at New York City’s The Rooftop at Pier 17 on July 28 and The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles on August 23. Lead vocalist China Forbes will join for the full tour, with co-lead singer Storm Large appearing at the NYC and LA shows.All dates are listed below and tickets are on sale now here.
The band’s music is also making waves on screen: “Hyatt Street,” a track by Pink Martini, is featured in the just-released film Nonnas, bringing their sound to a new audience. The placement is a fitting nod to their enduring cultural presence as they mark three decades of global influence.
“impressive at every musician’s station, this ensemble produces music that’s charming and elegant … " Variety
"this is rich, hugely approachable music, utterly cosmopolitan yet utterly unpretentious. And it seems to speak to just about everybody.” Washington Post
“Multilingual and defiantly cosmopolitan, Pink Martini have vacuumed up songs from Turkey, Japan, Romania and beyond, using lush string and horn arrangements that hark back to the days before Rock’n’Roll.” -The Sunday Times
“Jam-packed with unlikely excavations, inspired collaborations, obscure covers, and lyrics in languages ranging from Japanese to Neapolitan, (Pink Martini) is a gift to music magpies the world over.” -Interview Magazine
Featuring a dozen musicians with songs in 30 languages, Pink Martini performs its multilingual repertoire on concert stages and with symphony orchestras throughout Europe, Asia, Greece, Turkey, the Middle East, Northern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, South America and North America. The band has played with more than 70 orchestras around the world, including multiple engagements with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the Boston Pops, the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center, the San Francisco Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Sydney Symphony at the Sydney Opera House, and the BBC Concert Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall in London.
Over their 30 years Pink Martini has collaborated with numerous artists, including Phyllis Diller, Jimmy Scott, Carol Channing, Rita Moreno, Jane Powell, Rufus Wainwright, filmmaker Gus Van Sant, the original cast of Sesame Street, and the Portland Youth Philharmonic. They also have an illustrious roster of regular guest artists: NPR’s Ari Shapiro, host of All Things Considered; Cantor Ida Rae Cahana (who was cantor at the Central Synagogue in NYC for five years); koto player Masumi Timson, and harpist Maureen Love.
Pink Martini formed In 1994 when bandleader Thomas Lauderdale had finished college and returned to his hometown of Portland, OR. He was working at City Hall with an eye towards running for office. Being a classically trained pianist, music was always in the background, and he formed his “little orchestra,” soon dubbed Pink Martini, as a means to provide music for political fundraisers for progressive causes near to his heart - including civil rights, affordable housing, the environment, and public broadcasting. China Forbes, Lauderdale’s friend from their college days at Harvard, joined the group the following year, and the first song they wrote together, “Sympathique” (Je ne veux pas travailler), became an overnight sensation in France, where it remains a mantra (“Je ne veux pas travailler” translates to “I don’t want to work”) for striking French workers. Politics continues to be a focal point for the band, as both Lauderdale and Pink Martini lend their voice to progressive causes.
Television appearances have included The Late Show with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Later with Jools Holland, and a feature on CBS Sunday Morning. The band created a nationally broadcast 2015 NPR holiday concert special, Joy to the World: A Holiday Spectacular, and has been featured on multiple New Year’s Eve broadcasts on NPR’s Toast of the Nation.
** Watch this space for more music and news from Pink Martini and their 30th Anniversary ** | 
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