September 1, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW ADDITIONS TO THE PINK MARTINI LINEUP!
NPR'S ARI SHAPIRO TO JOIN PINK MARTINI AND GUEST SINGER
STORM LARGE FOR THREE CONCERTS WITH
OREGON SYMPHONY SEPTEMBER 11, 12, 13

(PORTLAND, Ore.) – In the absence of Pink Martini singer China Forbes, as she recovers from vocal surgery, the band will be joined by Portland native and NPR White House Correspondent Ari Shapiro, guest singer Storm Large, and Pacific Youth Choir for three performances with the Oregon Symphony under the direction of Carlos Kalmar.

A graduate of Beaverton High School, Ari Shapiro grew up in Portland, where before he ever had a drivers’ license, he would sneak into Berbati’s Pan to watch Pink Martini's earliest concerts.  He made his singing debut with the band at the Hollywood Bowl in 2009 in front of 18,000 people and Shapiro has since joined the band for concerts across the country, and recorded songs on the Pink Martini’s two most recent albums "Splendor in the Grass" and "Joy to the World.”

Storm Large made her debut with Pink Martini in April 2011 stepping in for China Forbes to lead four sold-out concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. She toured with the band in Brazil in May, appeared at Sasquatch Music Festival, and toured throughout the U.S. in July including a concert in New York’s Central Park.  Following her performance with Pink Martini on July 17 the Cape Cod Times raved, “With the sexiness of a lounge singer and the pipes of someone who wouldn’t be out of place at the Met, Large is the perfect leader-cum-pinup girl for Pink Martini.”

“I have adored the fabulous Storm Large ever since she moved to Portland a decade ago, and I always hoped we could find a way to collaborate,” says Pink Martini bandleader Thomas Lauderdale. “She is a brilliant, beautiful, charismatic and seductive star who would give Jayne Mansfield a run for her money. While we are disappointed that China is unable to perform with us, I am delighted be able to work with Storm Large for these performances.

“Then there is the symphony itself!  It is an honor to be under the baton of the fabulous and sexy Carlos Kalmar who triumphantly wowed the crowds and the critics last May when the orchestra made its Carnegie Hall debut.  The Oregon Symphony has become, under his leadership, a true world-class orchestra.

“And if that’s still not enough, Ari Shapiro –who grew up in Portland working at the Rimsky-Korsakoffee House and sneaking his way in to our first shows, and who now travels with President Obama on Air Force One—will be making his Oregon Symphony singing debut.  He’s tall, he’s foxy, he’s a great chef, he does parkour, he is modest, yet brilliant and he sings like the dickens!  He’s got great chemistry with Storm … not to mention Carlos!  It’s a perfect ménage.  This is going to be one hell of a show!” 

What:             Pink Martini with Guest Singer Storm Large plus Ari Shapiro &
                         Pacific Youth Choir with the Oregon Symphony
Where:           Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall—SW Broadway & Main Street, Portland
When:            Sunday September 11, 7:30pm
                         Monday September 12, 7:30pm
                         Tuesday September 13, 7:30pm
Tickets:          Available online at orsymphony.org, by phone at 503-228-1353 and at the Oregon Symphony Ticket Office, 923 SW Washington, Portland. (M-F, 10-6).

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CONTACT:
Jim Fullan
Vice President, Communications, Marketing & Sales
503-416-6347
jfullan@orsymphony.org