The Washington Performing Arts recently hosted Pink Martini at the world-renowned Kennedy Center for an evening filled with superb musicianship and vocals. Whether it was Thomas Lauderdale’s fantastic piano playing, the beautiful vocals of China Forbes, Ari Shapiro, or Jimmie Herrod, or the technical brilliance of the other members of this highly talented jazz and pop band, it was definitely a night for enjoyment for all in attendance, and a night that will be remembered for a long time to come.

The energy level of the show was exhilarating at The Kennedy Center on Oct. 14. The musicianship within Pink Martini is magnificent. For anyone who enjoys listening to trumpets, horns, and piano music, attending a Pink Martini show should be on your bucket list. Also, a Pink Martini show is not just about music and comes with a great amount of beautiful lighting and vibrant colors, which was on full display during the Kennedy Center concert.

One night after celebrating their official 30th anniversary with a celebratory cake, Pink Martini began the first night of their 31st year as a band in sensational form at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, which in hindsight is the perfect venue for a band that caters to the international community — and sings, as possibly very few can, in many different languages.

Watch Pink Martini featuring China Forbes perform “Una Notte a Napoli” live from Pink Martini World HQ on YouTube:

Going to see Pink Martini’s 30th Anniversary Tour was one of the best choices I have made this concert season not only as a music journalist, but as a fan of intelligently played music, and high-energy music. This tour has numerous concerts planned for the current celebration across North America, including three shows at Nashville’s Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Music City, and numerous other opera houses and symphony centers around the USA, including multiple stops in San Francisco before heading to Europe in 2025.

The show at the Kennedy Center saw the band playing a non-stop concert full of surprises and excellent dancing by the audience during the show. The audience also reciprocated the energy of the band making the occasion very rewarding for the band and those in attendance at this sold-out performance.

The band was in top form the entire evening highlighted by an introductory instrumental bolero, and outstanding mix of classic, jazz, and pop instrumentation with superior vocal performances and finished while playing over 20 songs for an evening genuinely enjoyed by all in attendance signaled by the great reception the band received throughout the evening. The show also covered discussion and reminiscing about the previous 30-years of touring together, and how Thomas Lauderdale originally started the band and eventually met China Forbes in college about 35 years ago with her ultimately joining as lead vocalist and together them offering the world an enhanced band situation catering to people all over the planet.

Thomas Lauderdale, the pianist, founded Pink Martini as disclosed on the Pink Martini website as he “was dismayed to find the music at these events (referring to political fundraisers as Lauderdale was a politician at the time) underwhelming, lackluster, loud, and un-neighborly”. Thus, Pink Martini was formed to “provide more beautiful and inclusive musical soundtracks for political fundraisers for causes such as civil rights, affordable housing, funding for libraries, public broadcasting, and parks.” While there may have been a specific reason in mind when forming Pink Martini, it is obvious by the global success of the band that the band has reached heights possibly not envisioned when first forming.

From the onset one of the goals of the band has been to make music with an international appeal fused in classical music, jazz and pop. 30 years onward this is still one of the mantras of the band and can be felt each night as the band normally closes concerts with their version of “Brasil,” a classic Portuguese dance tune from South America. The highly talented band can conduct songs in up to 25 different languages as their website confirms.

In fact, the band did close the Kennedy Center show with a fantastic version of Brasil with people dancing throughout the concert hall. Furthermore, some of these surprises of the evening included getting maximum participation with the audience members dancing throughout the aisles of the Kennedy Center during a great version of Donde Estas Yolanda.

Watch Pink Martini featuring China Formers perform “Brasil” live in Portland, Oregon, via YouTube:

The night also was highlighted by guest appearances by Ari Shapiro and Jimmie Herrod. Shapiro has been a guest artist with the band for about 15 years now. Both performed outstanding lead vocals during the anniversary concert with Shapiro singing on But Now I’m Back, and La Soledad, and Herrod on Exodus.

Forbes and Shapiro would then sing back-to-back romantic songs with Forbes singing And Then You’re Gone and Shapiro singing But Now I’m Back to much audience excitement. The energy level during the show was constant barely leaving time for a break as the band ran thru song after song, hit after hit.

At one point in the show, Lauderdale and band members gave away Pink Martini merchandise to include a poster and vinyl much to the delight of selected audience members.

One of the highlights for me personally was Forbes playing “Full Circle” on piano from her current solo album, The Road. Parklife DC was able to cover her inspiring solo concert earlier this year at the Birchmere in Alexandria, and her form tonight was perhaps even better during Pink Martini’s set at Kennedy Center. Her voice stands the test of time and continues getting better each year. At the Kennedy Center performance you can’t help to hear and watch as she works flawlessly with Lauderdale in getting the most from Park Martini.

Anyone electing to go to a Pink Martini show should expect a robust night of great song and dance, with some of the finest musicians on the planet. The tempo is very upbeat, and favors those who love classical, jazz and pop music played in elegant locations, where dancing the night away has become part of the routine for a Pink Martini outing. The band is in fantastic form during this tour and should be on anyone’s list of concerts to attend over the next year.

Setlist:

Bolero
Amado Mio
Je Ne Veux Pas Travailler
Lilly
Ninna Nanna
Cante e Dance
Donde estas Yolanda
And Then You’re Gone
But now I’m Back
La Soledad
Exodus
Flying Squirrel
Tempo Perdido
Hang on Little Tomato
Hey Eugene
Full Circle (China solo song)
Una Notte
Get Happy/Happy Days
Tomorrow
Brasil

Catch Pink Martini on tour near you!

Here are some photos of Pink Martini performing at The Kennedy Center on Oct. 14, 2024. All pictures copyright and courtesy of James Todd Miller.