Imagine this: It’s 1943, and somewhere in Nazi-occupied Europe, a group of young people huddles around a crackling radio, desperately tuning through static to catch the forbidden sounds of swing. The penalty for being caught? Imprisonment, or worse. But the music—oh, the music—was worth the risk.
While many musical genres found their audiences in the 1940s, swing and jazz reigned supreme as America’s musical ambassadors. But these weren’t just catchy tunes for Saturday night dancing. In the darkest chapter of modern history, these styles became a symbol of the unbreakable human spirit.
Fast-forward to today, and that same uplifting energy lives on through artists like Portland-based Pink Martini. Known for blending a range of musical styles into one captivating experience, the band continues to win over audiences worldwide. With an ensemble of 12 musical artists, Pink Martini presents performances in 25 different languages across concert venues and alongside orchestral groups on multiple continents, including Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Northern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, South America, and North America.
This year, Pink Martini is celebrating its 30th anniversary with North American tour dates and a brand-new EP, “Bella Ciao,” featuring singles “Pourquoi Tu Vis” and the EP’s title track. The group will make a stop in Bend on June 29 at Hayden Homes Amphitheater.
Founded by Thomas Lauderdale in 1994, Pink Martini started out playing political fundraisers for causes such as civil rights and the environment. They quickly rose to fame with their French song Sympathique, released in 1997. Pink Martini’s unique blend of classical, swing, and cabaret is what Lauderdale has referred to as “Lawrence Welk on acid.” Upbeat songs such as “Tempo Perdido,” “Mas Que Nada” and “Zundoko” will make you wish you had taken more dance lessons, while songs like “Souvenir” and “Tea for Two” will have you envisioning yourself living in a black-and-white movie. While playing in Bend, the luminous China Forbes will be adding to the magic of Pink Martini. Pink Martini’s renowned vocalist, solo vocalist and Ella Fitzgerald Prize winner, Forbes, seduces audiences with her rich contralto tones and impeccable articulation. Her artistry extends beyond vocal excellence as she transforms into a living extension of each song, with every gesture and fluid arm movement becoming instrumental elements that dance in harmony with the music.
This captivating synthesis of voice, movement and style perfectly embodies the essence of Pink Martini’s philosophy: to find common ground through music. Pink Martini serves as a bridge between the golden age of swing and modern audiences hungry for music with soul and substance. “I just think that the past is so well-built—better written, smarter—and there’s a lot to learn from it,” he explained in a recent interview with Classical Radio anthology. “I have a great amount of respect for that.”
This isn’t mere nostalgia talking. Lauderdale hails from Harvard, holding a degree in history and literature. During a recent break from Pink Martini’s busy touring schedule, Lauderdale expounded upon his love of music and history. Lauderdale- like Pink Martini- casts aside all stereotypes with his disarming charm, quick wit, and singular style.
the Source: Pink Martini began in Portland?
Thomas Lauderdale: Yeah, when I first lived here, it was cheap. Now everything is so expensive. When things are expensive, there’s no room for an underground.
tS: Bringing the underground to general awareness- that’s part of what a historian does.
TL: (Nodding) I studied history at Harvard.
tS: You have a deep love of music and history. How do these connect in your life?
TL: I consider myself just as much a historian as a pianist. We (husband Hunter Noack and I) live downtown in an 1878 building. I collect vintage magazines, including old issues of Life and Playboy.
tS: I love that! Old magazines are full of treasures.
TL: I love the ads.
tS: Do you have a favorite historical period?
TL: If I were to go back and redo my thesis, I would study 1964 as a pivotal year in this country. It was the end of beauty and optimism. A Hunt’s Ketchup ad was the impetus for (Pink Martini’s second album) Hang On Little Tomato. It was published in 1964, and it’s beautiful yet sinister. Pre-1964 was a terrible time, but there was collective optimism. After 1964, we also began to lose the melody.
tS: Pink Martini never has that problem! Your newest EP, Bella Ciao, is a testament to that. The title song is based on an Italian folksong, which gained popularity as an anti-fascist anthem in the 1940s. Is there a reason it was chosen?
TL: It’s pretty sneaky! (Laughing) We started playing it last year. The Democrats need a better soundtrack. Politics and entertainment are the same in America. The Democrats put on a party in Portland, and all they served was cheese. Just little cubes of cheese, not even crackers! The Democrats need to throw a better party.
tS: Pink Martini has a fan base that crosses political lines. How do you describe it?
TL: (Smiling) Pink Martini is a bridge builder. We have fans from all over. We have a lot of Trump fans. But when everyone is dancing, we become a unifier.
Lauderdale’s insights reveal a deep understanding of what makes Pink Martini’s music so powerful in the first place: like the swing and jazz of the 1940s, the band’s charismatic performances serve as a celebration of the human spirit. As Pink Martini takes the stage in Bend this June, they carry forward the same defiant joy that once crackled through hidden radios in wartime Europe. For 30 years, Pink Martini has proven that the best response to darkness isn’t silence—it’s turning up the volume on everything that makes us gloriously, defiantly human.
This article appears in Source Weekly June 26, 2025.
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