Wed. Jun. 5: CHINA FORBES (of Pink Martini) with Duo Caliente -7:30pm- $35.00
China Forbes – the glamorous voice of Portland, Oregon’s very own, world-famous “little orchestra,” Pink Martini – will be releasing her forthcoming album, The Road, on May 17, 2024 via Heinz Records. The LP marks the first solo album for Forbes in fifteen years, and features eleven original, auto-biographical songs. The album was produced by Forbes herself, and engineered by Gregg Williams, in Portland, Oregon, with additional engineering by Steve Sundholm. Forbes is the 2022 recipient of the Ella Fitzgerald Award at the Montreal International Jazz Festival. Previous winners include Diana Ross, Etta James, Liza Minelli, Diana Krall and Aretha Franklin.
Today, Forbes is ecstatic to share LP highlight “Bring on the Rain,” a song of brittle defiance and longing. Speaking on the new song, Forbes recalls “I had this moment after I decided to get divorced and he moved out. I built a beautiful fire to make sure I could do everything on my own. I was elated. And then I went to see Neko Case perform in September in the middle of a brick plaza under the stars and I was suddenly struck by the fact that I was completely alone. In Portland it was time for the rain to return and I welcomed it. I never loved summer. The rain felt like how I felt inside.”
Three singles have already been shared from the album, including the Erik Satie-inspired title track, “Full Circle” and “Rise,” a personal and uplifting tribute to Forbes’s friend and former Pink Martini bandmate, percussionist Derek Rieth.
The Road displays a return to the singer-songwriter’s roots, sharing a journey of personal songs that tell the story of her life so far, highlighting themes of emotional depth and self-discovery. About her new full-length, Forbes says: “The Road is about figuring out who I am and being OK with what I discover. It’s about learning to accept myself in all my phases and stages. It’s about mental health struggles and triumphs, lessons learned and ultimately about knowing who I am and what I want. It’s about where I’m going. Where I’m headed.”
Forbes will be celebrating the release of her new album by performing two hometown album release shows with her own small band at the Patricia Reser Center for the Arts in
Beaverton, OR on May 18 & 19, and at The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA on June 5, 2024!
