This band has redefined Latin lounge by smothering sultry, roasted-chili-pepper-sauce vocals by China Forbes and Timothy Sishimoto over the best-goddamned black-bean-and-chevre-burrito band ever. I mean here it is, on the number "Kikuchiyo to mohshimasu (Her name was Kikuchiyo)", the band invited a Japanese slide guitar player and a chorus to accompany. Cuban Japanese country Latin love songs with Japanese chorus back up, get outta here! The band is a huge fireworks display mix of horns, percussion, guitar, strings, I mean there's between 10 and 20 expert musicians playing and singing these songs.
There are songs in 6 different languages on this album, yow, and there's a bonus live song from their first CD too. With such a mix of different culture's vocal sentiment and embracement by laid back authentic and excitement fulfilling music, this album makes me realize that bringing together is way better than burrowing away alone somewhere. I mean it's like what some scientist on the radio said last week, "specialization is for insects." The art that makes the home fire burn hot is that which incorporates, not isolates and Pink Martini brings it all together, and how.
It's nice to imagine how twenty different people can throw in their own art to fashion a song. For five minutes, give or take a few ticks, a collaboration happens, weaves, moves fantastic harmony is created and my ears and heart are so much the better for it. Strings flirt with horns, drums play quick hide and go seek with xylophones and harps, piano colors outside of the lines the bass draws to create something I happily put on the fridge and admire and relish.
Kissing, sharing what if's and if so where if's and how if's, kitty purring lazy and happy for soft belly pets, soup simmering, wine sipping, in love with life and so happy with it's occasional lush gifts. This music begs these things of you, how can you say no?
Pink Martini are doing some West Coast shows now, none in Vancouver yet, but Jimmy Scott is opening some of their shows, HOLY SHIT……If you can, please see that show, that would make the world a much better place.
