Customer Reviews

Hang on Little Tomato

5 star:		(100)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I loved Sympathique (and awaited this new release along with everyone else) and couldn't wait for this new CD to come out. It was well worth the wait. China Forbes sounds better than ever - she's clearly been doing her vocal exercises! - and Robert Taylor is a welcome new addition with his evocative lead vocals (and trumpet musings) in Veronique. The range of the album's songs is greater - from the joy of the opening track to the depths of the beautiful cello solo that opens U Palvu zoru.

I'm much better at book reviews than I am at music. Being a grandmother and (I confess) a great-grandmother, I didn't expect any of today's music to move me ... or even impress me.

BUT ... this album did it! I can't say--as one reviewer said-- that every song is pitch-perfect (my hearing isn't that good anymore), but I CAN say that I liked what I heard.

I have never had a martini in my long life, but I'm even sold on the name of these talented musicians. It has a "Bling Ring" to it!

Those of us who have been PM fans for a while have waited endlessly to finally have this album in our hands. For the past few years, it has become a running joke between the band and its fans.

Lead singer China Forbes once said during a concert, "This next song is called 'Aspettami', which means, "Wait for me", which means, "Be patient... the new album will come out one day!"

If you ever get the chance to see this amazing group live, DO NOT hesitate. Living in Oregon, I've been lucky enough to see them about 8 times and even meet the entire ensemble on a number of occasions. They are truly special, very talented individuals.

My ONLY complaint -- and believe me, I don't mean this as any kind of indicator on the quality of this album -- is that a few songs that I've come to love through their live shows didn't make this album's cut. These include "The Flying Squirrel" and the bands crowd-favorite song "Hey Eugene", among others whose titles escape. However, I'm confident that these songs will be a part of an eventual third album.

Do yourself and/or someone you love a favor... buy this album and the band's first cd, "Sympathique" and enjoy one of the best kept musical secrets around.

Pink Martini has earned a cult following after the success of their independently produced and distributed first album, Sympatique. Seven years later comes Hang On Little Tomato, with plenty of what Pink Martini does best. This is truly an international gem, with songs in French, Italian, Japanese . . . oh, and English. The lead singer offers a lush alto interpretation as easy as warm caramel. With expert piano, harp, clarinet, trumpet bending blues notes with a classical underbelly and Latin rhythms, there is no other group that feeds the soul as satisfyingly. You will find many favorites on this album. From the romantic lines of the opener ("I know a falling star can't fall forever, but let's never stop falling in love") to the quirky title song, to the endering Lily ("Lily comes when you stop to call her; Lily runs when you look away; Lily leaves kisses on your collar; Lily Lily Lily Lily stay!") to the smoldering Una Notte en Napoli. I've not enjoyed a new CD in many many years . . . gee, since I was turned onto Sympatique.

Amidst the same old trends - boy bands, do-anything-for-fame rockers and their drug induced lyrics, indie alternatives and their oh-i'm-so-cool-because-i'm-anti-mainstream attitude, girls-with-pianos trying to be the next Sarah McLachlan, guys-with-pianos trying to be the next Rufus, here is one refreshing band that is utterly original, sophisticated and yet not in your face about it all the time.

The CD quickly topped my 'Best of 2004' list, I couldn't stop listening to it. I felt I needed to support the artists and ended up buying more CDs for my friends. You hear that, RIAA? If the music is good, we'll buy it even if we don't have to.

Genre: Their website says, "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."
- That's just ridiculous. Pink Martini is so much much more, don't even try to pigeonhole them into that genre. You missed French bossa nova, Latin Nouveau salsa, Cabaret lounge, Caribbean percussion, Greek dance fest...you get the idea.

Why: The very first song, 'Let's never stop falling in love' jazzily transports you to a Brazilian café staring into the eyes of your sexy amore. You go through a myraid of places, imagery and emotions as you listen to the CD. There's the wistful "Autrefois" about a girl writing letters to her friends that takes you to a cafe on the Parisian sidewalk, the longing of "Aspettami", the the hopeful "Hang on Little Tomato" and loving "Clementine", the sexy "U Plavu Zoru" with the deep cello, a sultry "Veronique", the catchy "Dansez vous" which will be very hard to get out of your head, the fun romp in "Lilly" and probably the most unique piece of music I have ever heard, "Kikuchiyo To".

When/Where to listen: Every single song on the CD is worth it and it's hard to come by a CD like that anymore. And it works for any time of the day - lazy sunny afternoons, sexy soiree in the evenings and late night lounge. After a while, you don't even notice the language has changed from song to song.

How is it different: In the store, I searched for the CD under 'World Music' because I was sure they must be some highly artsy bohemian band from France or Brazil. Turns out they are from Portland, Oregon. Oregon! Who'd have thunk?

Who: Was formed by Harvard graduate and classically trained pianist, Thomas M. Lauderdale.

Every single person I have recommended this CD to has fallen in love with it in the last 6 months. So much that I am starting to almost regret telling them about it because this is all I ever hear when we are together.

There's no doubt about it: Pink Martini, the "little orchestra," is indeed one of the best kept secrets around--and I can't understand why! I myself only stumbled over them while browsing the Amazon web site. I listened to a few sound clips on my computer--and immediately ordered this CD! I was not the slightest bit disappointed in this CD; I was amazed at their talent and natural giftedness!

In Hang On Little Tomato, the second CD put out by a group called Pink Martini, there is a stunning and beautiful diversity of songs. I strongly agree with the reviewer who writes that "you can't lock this group into one category." The CD starts out with the very strong "Let's Never Stop Falling In Love" sung by China Forbes with a beautiful arrangement. There's the Croatian song "U Plavu Zoru" about a love that will not be. French love song aficionados get a real treat with the two songs "Dansez-Vous" and "Autrefois." There's a great Spanish song (in regular Spanish, not Castilian) called "Anna (El Negro Zumbon)." I loved it! The Italian love song "Una Notte A Napoli" is exquisitely performed. There's also a Japanese song lamenting a night of passion that can never blossom into a full love affair, "Kikuchiyo To Mohshimasu."

There is a singular beauty to this song set that is rarely surpassed; their talent is undeniable and very dynamic. Moreover, this CD is extremely romantic. I agree with the reviewer who writes that this is the perfect CD to play when making love! Regardless of what's going on, or even if you're just hanging out with no agenda on a lazy afternoon, this CD is perfect for you!

The CD packaging is superlative as well! There are numerous terrific photos of the group members in black and white that literally and figuratively gave a face to this awesome group of performers! There's even a photograph of Heinz, the barking dog! GRIN Full lyrics and credits are included along with extensive thanks to the many people and family members who helped Pink Martini produce this CD.

To be blunt, you need this CD! It is a terrific song set (with an ending instrumental) that will impress you beyond your expectations! I can only hope to see them perform live in the very near future and PLEASE, Pink Martini, wherever you are--PUT OUT YOUR NEXT CD! GRIN

When Pink Martini produced Sympatique WAY back in 1997, I was literally floored by the quality and excellence of the album. It remains one of my favorites, to this day, almost 10 years later.

To confess, I've never been one to buy-in (figuratively and literally) to the whole mass production concept of music, and given the highly artistic and creative elements of Pink Martini, I would have been disappointed, though not surprised, if they had followed the phenomenal success of Sympatique with another album in a quick release schedule. Quality of Pink Martini's caliber takes some time.

However, some ten years later I was beginning to worry that they'd dropped off the face of the earth, or at least the music scene.

Be re-assured! They're back, and, believe it or not, Hang on Little Tomato is even better than the first! The album's namesake is an excellent example of the band's creativity - it was once a Heinz tomato ketchup ad, and it's a blast to hear. U Plavu Zoru - the Blue Door in Croatian - takes you to the nighttime coastline of that phenomenal country, whipped by somber, warm sea breezes. Alba Clemente's 1970 version of Una Notte a Napoli has been updated, without losing the sultry, sexy Italian feel, and has me bouncing around in my car every time I play it while driving (and that's a lot). Finally, the album's first masterpiece, Let's Never Stop Falling in Love, an original of the band, is one of the most romantic and fun songs I've heard in many a year, and destined to be a classic, if not already so.

Whenever a a band that had a really great first album comes out with the second there is always this question of "Will it be as good?" And the bar is set so high, that it's hard to say that a 2nd album could often outdo the first...

All I can say is that I can't seem to hold on to this CD because I keep giving it away to people because I think everyone should own this CD. I am singing the songs in my head and dragging the CD from the car to the house so I can keep listening to it.

China Forbes voice, their choices of instruments (like the clarinet on Hang on Little Tomato and the rhythm on El Negro Zumbon) are so right on the mark...they hit some kinda magical spot with each song on the album...they aim and it's a bullseye everytime. Each song seems to be crafted perfectly to sound exactly as it was imagined to be--whether it is a sad lullaby, a sassy cuban street rhythm, a silly inspirational etc.

It's an album for every collection, as well as Sympathique was.

I'm giving Hang On Little Tomato 5 stars for the joy it brings me over and over, but the CD (recorded and mixed 2001-2004)is merely a brilliant predecessor of what I heard live at UCLA in June 2006.

Now, my expectations were not very high going into the show because the name "Pink Martini Orchestra" is so campy, I expected derivative fun. By the second number, I realized that the vamping China Forbes is star material; by the fourth, that unobtrusive leader Thomas Lauderdale is genius material. I joined an audience that obviously was deleriously blown away.

Every sound is fresh and hauntingly familiar. Derivative? Well,it's definitely got the 30's Cubano big combo phenotype in there somewhere. And the eerie mix of trumpet, trombone, two violins and a cello (coming through the piano-harp-percussionX4) is , well, ur-Latino.

Paging through the Pink Martini website, I find that Lauderdale and Forbes are graduates of Harvard College, which confirms the strong impression in the music that there's some intelligence there. And I have no doubt that if these two can hold their musical partnership together, PMO is heading way higher.

Portland Oregon band Pink Martini has created a remarkable album on Hang on Little Tomato. The small orchestra continues with its tradition of elegant music executed masterfully. Hang on Little Tomato offers a wide variety of musical styles from Latin tunes, to 30's Music, Italian and French inspired music, most of them original creations.

Pink Martini for sure has a very developed sense of the rythm and their musical interpretation is quite good. The arrangements and production are very high quality despite the challenge to take on so many different styles.

The album is very good, but not excellent on two categories: while the lead vocalist China Forbes has a lovely voice, she lacks the vocal range, dynamics and phrasing to compete with the excellent female vocalists out there today. The second is that the vocals on non-english tracks come across a bit flat and its dynamics are not as smooth as you'd expect from local artists around the world, as an example: in Anna, the spanish vocals come across with a heavy accent that limits its flow.

Despite the points to improve, this is a lovely album and one to enjoy quite a bit. Pink Martini does deliver the goods with Hang on... Recommended tracks: "Aspettami", "Let's Never Stop Falling in Love" and "Una Notte a Napoli"