The REAL Pink Martini Story

Yes it was around 1997. I believe the album I was buying was Oscar Peterson and Lionel Hampton. If not John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, on Impulse! This was 1997. Buying stuff on the internet wasn't normal. I had to give cash to my Mom, who used her credit card on Amazon. When Sympathetique showed up, I didn't really think about it. Mom called Amazon, and the CD I wanted showed up a few days later. A few weeks later I see the Pink Martini CD sitting in the office. I read the back of the CD, and with Cellos, Violins, Trumpets, etc. it piqued my interest.

"Ma, I'm opening this CD"

"No, Amazon said they are sending an envelope for return"

"Ma, that was weeks ago."

"Are you prepared to pay for it?"

"No"

"Ok, then"

Two more weeks go by

"Ma, I'm prepared to pay for it, I'm pretty sure Amazon is too busy counting their stacks of cash"

"Fine"

From the Harp glissando opening, and China Forbes belting "Amado Mio" in her bigger than life voice, I was immediately hooked. Find me a band that has songs in Croatian, Japanese, Arabic and Modern Greek, among others.

I think the lesson learned here is you never know where you're going to hear your next favorite band. I'm paraphrasing Chris Bro, host of NEXT, a new music show on 107.1 The Peak in NY. I mean, I'm a horrible music snob. I sometimes ignore bands that people tell me I'd like, only to find they were right.

Case in point: The final song on Mix No. 1. I maintain that whenever a musician starts to do the American Songbook, their career is over. (See: Rod Stewart) But obviously I'm way off base. Johnny Cash's American series is not your old Cole Porter, Irving Berlin, Gershwin songbook. Its Trent Reznor, Depeche Mode, and Will Oldham. This is not your parents' American Songbook. I like being proven wrong... Here's to eating crow.