New Studio Album with 16 Delightful Globe-Spanning Songs in Nine Languages!
Pink Martini's long-awaited follow-up to their 2009 hit album Splendor in the Grass features their beloved vocalist China Forbes joined in the studio by her new co-lead singer Storm Large along with a cavalcade of guest star vocalists!
Featuring the 'little orchestra's" trademark mix of pop songs from all corners of the globe, spanning the breadth of the 20th century, Get Happy's sunny disposition shines through its intricate and luxurious orchestral pop arrangements.
Highlights of the album include the final recording of the legendary Phyllis Diller, a riveting appearance by the exquisite Rufus Wainwright, and a charming duet written and performed by China Forbes with underground French sensation Philippe Katerine.
In January 2012, Thomas Lauderdale and trusty audio engineer Dave Friedlander flew to Los Angeles to visit Thomas’s new friend, Phyllis Diller. While there, Thomas bought a dozen of Phyllis’s bright colorful paintings... and they recorded Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile”, which turned out to be Phyllis Diller’s final recording, and became the soundtrack for the many tributes to her when she passed away six months later.
Thus began the 18-month odyssey to record Get Happy, the long-awaited studio follow-up to 2009's Splendor in the Grass, an odyssey which featured a cavalcade of vocal royalty visiting the Portland studios, including exotic cabaret sensation Meow Meow, sunny French eccentric Philippe Katerine, the handsome and brilliant radio superstar Ari Shapiro, warm-hearted wunder-siblings The von Trapps, and a riveting appearance by the exquisite Rufus Wainwright!
Anchored by the beloved and elegant vocalist China Forbes, alongside dazzling co-lead-singer Storm Large, finally making her recording debut with them, the album features sixteen songs selected and arranged by Thomas, including songs in German, French, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Farsi, Turkish and Romanian.
"Charming and elegant." - Variety
"Rich, hugely approachable music, utterly cosmopolitan yet utterly unpretentious." - The Washington Post
"Knowing sophistication backed by skillful arrangements." - The New York Times
"With a title like Get Happy, Pink Martini's fifth album could very well be filled with perky vocal pop, but the group offers something a little more nuanced here. This collection is more eclectic in mood and sound than 2009's Splendor in the Grass, which was fittingly romantic but focused more on the light pop aspect of their sound. During the time between that album and this one, Pink Martini pursued some more wide-ranging projects, including 1969, where they interpreted some of that year's biggest songs with Japanese vocalist Saori Yuki. That eclectic spirit seems to have rubbed off on Get Happy, which gives equal time to their tender and playful sides -- and sometimes both at once...Get Happy also marks the recording debut of new Pink Martini vocalist Storm Large, whose smoky tones make an elegant contrast to longtime singer China Forbes' sparkling vocals." -Heather Phares, allmusic.com
Features:
• CD
• 17 Polaroid Reproductions by Thomas Lauderdale
• Two Collectible Stickers
Musicians:
China Forbes, vocals
Storm Large, vocals
Thomas M. Lauderdale, piano
Gavin Bondy, trumpet
Robert Taylor, trombone, vocals
Phil Baker, bass, sitar
Dan Faehnle, guitar
Nicholas Crosa, violin
Pansy Change, cello
Anthony Jones, drums
Brian Davis, percussion
Timothy Nishimoto, vocals, percussion
Maureen Love, harp
Norman Leyden, clarinet
Rufus Wainwright, guest vocals
The von Trapps, guest vocals
Meow Meow, guest vocals
Philippe Katerine, guest vocals
Phyllis Diller, guest vocals
Ari Shapiro, guest vocals
The Pacific Youth Choir
The Harvey Rosencrantz Orchestra
Selections:
1. Ich dic liebe
2. Quizas, quizas, quizas
3. I'm Waiting For You To Come Back
4. Omide Zendegani
5. Yo te quiero siempre
6. Je ne t'aime plus
7. Zundoko-bushi
8. Pan a cand nu te iubeam
9. She Was Too Good To Me
10. Uskudar'a gider iken
11. Sway
12. Kitty Come Home
13. What'll I Do?
14. Get Happy / Happy Days Are Here Again
15. Heliotrope Bouquet
16. Smile
Pink Martini's long-awaited follow-up to their 2009 hit album Splendor in the Grass features their beloved vocalist China Forbes joined in the studio by her new co-lead singer Storm Large along with a cavalcade of guest star vocalists!
Featuring the 'little orchestra's" trademark mix of pop songs from all corners of the globe, spanning the breadth of the 20th century, Get Happy's sunny disposition shines through its intricate and luxurious orchestral pop arrangements.
Highlights of the album include the final recording of the legendary Phyllis Diller, a riveting appearance by the exquisite Rufus Wainwright, and a charming duet written and performed by China Forbes with underground French sensation Philippe Katerine.
In January 2012, Thomas Lauderdale and trusty audio engineer Dave Friedlander flew to Los Angeles to visit Thomas’s new friend, Phyllis Diller. While there, Thomas bought a dozen of Phyllis’s bright colorful paintings... and they recorded Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile”, which turned out to be Phyllis Diller’s final recording, and became the soundtrack for the many tributes to her when she passed away six months later.
Thus began the 18-month odyssey to record Get Happy, the long-awaited studio follow-up to 2009's Splendor in the Grass, an odyssey which featured a cavalcade of vocal royalty visiting the Portland studios, including exotic cabaret sensation Meow Meow, sunny French eccentric Philippe Katerine, the handsome and brilliant radio superstar Ari Shapiro, warm-hearted wunder-siblings The von Trapps, and a riveting appearance by the exquisite Rufus Wainwright!
Anchored by the beloved and elegant vocalist China Forbes, alongside dazzling co-lead-singer Storm Large, finally making her recording debut with them, the album features sixteen songs selected and arranged by Thomas, including songs in German, French, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Farsi, Turkish and Romanian.
"Charming and elegant." - Variety
"Rich, hugely approachable music, utterly cosmopolitan yet utterly unpretentious." - The Washington Post
"Knowing sophistication backed by skillful arrangements." - The New York Times
"With a title like Get Happy, Pink Martini's fifth album could very well be filled with perky vocal pop, but the group offers something a little more nuanced here. This collection is more eclectic in mood and sound than 2009's Splendor in the Grass, which was fittingly romantic but focused more on the light pop aspect of their sound. During the time between that album and this one, Pink Martini pursued some more wide-ranging projects, including 1969, where they interpreted some of that year's biggest songs with Japanese vocalist Saori Yuki. That eclectic spirit seems to have rubbed off on Get Happy, which gives equal time to their tender and playful sides -- and sometimes both at once...Get Happy also marks the recording debut of new Pink Martini vocalist Storm Large, whose smoky tones make an elegant contrast to longtime singer China Forbes' sparkling vocals." -Heather Phares, allmusic.com
Features:
• CD
• 17 Polaroid Reproductions by Thomas Lauderdale
• Two Collectible Stickers
Musicians:
China Forbes, vocals
Storm Large, vocals
Thomas M. Lauderdale, piano
Gavin Bondy, trumpet
Robert Taylor, trombone, vocals
Phil Baker, bass, sitar
Dan Faehnle, guitar
Nicholas Crosa, violin
Pansy Change, cello
Anthony Jones, drums
Brian Davis, percussion
Timothy Nishimoto, vocals, percussion
Maureen Love, harp
Norman Leyden, clarinet
Rufus Wainwright, guest vocals
The von Trapps, guest vocals
Meow Meow, guest vocals
Philippe Katerine, guest vocals
Phyllis Diller, guest vocals
Ari Shapiro, guest vocals
The Pacific Youth Choir
The Harvey Rosencrantz Orchestra
Selections:
1. Ich dic liebe
2. Quizas, quizas, quizas
3. I'm Waiting For You To Come Back
4. Omide Zendegani
5. Yo te quiero siempre
6. Je ne t'aime plus
7. Zundoko-bushi
8. Pan a cand nu te iubeam
9. She Was Too Good To Me
10. Uskudar'a gider iken
11. Sway
12. Kitty Come Home
13. What'll I Do?
14. Get Happy / Happy Days Are Here Again
15. Heliotrope Bouquet
16. Smile
