Pink Martini to Release 4th Album, “Splendor in the Grass,” on October 13

Coming off it’s hit album Hey Eugene! with it’s infectious title track, the multi-cultural, multi-near everything band that Lyle Lovett calls “large” will release it’s fourth record on October 13, with guest vocals from 90-year-old Mexican rancheras singer Chavela Vargas and NPR correspondent Ari Shapiro.

While they do not often — save for those wonderful New Year’s Eve performances & NPR interviews — perform on the radio, they did a wonderful 40 minute set & interview on the September 18 edition of KCRW’s Morning Becomes Eclectic. It can be streamed — audio or video — here:

http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/mb090918pink_martini

You may also want to spend 3 minutes & 35 seconds of your life watching them perform “Hey Eugene” from a 2007 Letterman show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjtekYzkZD4

And, of course, check their home and My Space pages, other records and a live DVD.

One of my favorite musical moments — in the home, that is — of 2007 came when I put the album on the stereo — yes, I still listen to music primarily on a real stereo while sitting down — and got lost in Pink Martini’s world. Then, on the last track, “Tea For Two,” after China outdid herself on the opening verse, Jimmy Scott slid into the second and I was transported to heaven. Jimmy also appeared with them at their Carnegie Hall performance and their New Year eve’s concert in LA’s Disney Hall. It was broadcast live on NPR’s stations across the country — the hostess at my New Year eve’s get-together in NY was most happy to tune it in. I believe it is also available on the KCRW site.