Pink Martini

Saturday, July 2, 2005 • 7:30 p.m.

Somewhere between a 1930s Cuban dance orchestra, a classical chamber music ensemble, a Brasilian marching street band and Japanese film noir is the 12-piece Pink Martini.

Part language lesson, part Hollywood musical, the "little orchestra" was created in 1994 in Portland, Oregon. The group made its European debut at the Cannes Film Festival and in the years following went on tour throughout Europe, Greece, Turkey, Taiwan, Lebanon and the United States.

Equally at home performing its multi-lingual repertoire on concert stages and smoky bars, Pink Martini draws a wildly diverse crowd. The ensemble made its orchestral debut with the oregon Symphony Orchestra in 1999 and have since performed with the symphony orchestras of Seattle, Nashville, New Jersey, Charlotte, San Antonio, Kansas City and Jacksonville, among others.

Pink Martini's debut album Sympathique, was nominated for Song of the Year and Best New Artist in France's Victories de la Musique awards. Sympathique has gone platinum in France and gold in Greece. Their music has been used in such films as Josie & the Pussycats, Nurse Betty and Tortilla Soup as well as on the television shows The Sopranos, The West Wing and Felicity among others.

Paris Combo

Saturday, July 2, 2005 • 7:30 p.m.

Paris Combo- a celebration of contemporary Paris, reflecting influences of blues, swing, Gypsy, flamenco, and North Africa. Their music is a jazzy and sexy version of the rootsy chanson tradition. paris Combo began performing regularly in Paris in 1995, playing cafes, clubs and even barges on the Seine. The eclectic line-up of global participants with varied musical and artistic influences fuel the popular group. Although influenced by the French guitar-legend Django Reinhardt, they find other varied sources of inspiration in jazz. Latin-music, '30s chanson, od-meter rhythms from Eastern Europe and more recent influences that merge to create a sound which is truly unique and contemporary. Billboard Magazine has said of the quintet of Paris-based musicians that they have the "coolest sounds on either side of the Atlantic."

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