New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Thomas Lauderdale, the founder and bandleader of beloved Portland, Oregon-based little orchestra
Pink Martini and "post-modern chanteuse" (The
Boston Globe) Meow Meow have joined forces for Hotel Amour, their highly anticipated joint album due March 22 via
Heinz Records. The product of a decades-long friendship, artistic collaboration and songwriting partnership, the long-awaited album also features special guests
Rufus Wainwright, Barry Humphries (of Dame Edna fame) and The von Trapps, plus a special live recording with legendary pianist and composer Michel Legrand.
In support of the release, Lauderdale and Meow Meow will embark on a North American tour this spring, which includes stops at New York City's Sony Hall, Los Angeles' Masonic Lodge, Washington D.C.'s Lincoln Theatre, Boston's Berklee Performance Center and more. See below for confirmed dates.
A musical love affair between two singular artists, Hotel Amour features new original songs alongside journeys into the French, German and Shanghainese canon of the 20th century-encompassing bittersweet tragedy, humor, politics, witty wicked Weimar and aching French torch songs. Of the album, Meow Meow says, "The sound will be both familiar and exotic to both my fans and those of Pink Martini-a true collaboration between two passionate artists with converging and diverging inspirations, but above all an obsession with the joy of sharing special music. I think it really is a collection of songs-both originals and covers-that range from little historical gems we have polished to others that we have written our hearts and souls into."
Together the two friends have performed and composed across the globe, sharing stages ranging from the backstreet bars of Berlin and Portland, Oregon's infamous strip club, Mary's Club, to the legendary Sydney Opera House and London's Royal Albert Hall. They will tour in support of the album this spring, and then Meow Meow-who is also set to appear in the upcoming star-studded film adaptation of the musical Cats-will join
Pink Martini on a U.S. tour in the fall. Details to be announced.
HOTEL AMOUR TRACK LIST
1. I Lost Myself (I'm Hungry...and That Ain't Right)
2. Mon homme marié
3. I'm Waiting for You to Come Back
4. Hotel Amour
5. Die blaue Stunde I
6. Sans toi (feat. guest pianist Michel Legrand)
7. Mausi, süß warst Du heute Nacht (feat. Barry Humphries)
8. Bonjour tristesse
9. True Love
10. À quoi ça sert l'amour (feat.
Rufus Wainwright)
11. Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo (feat. The von Trapps)
12. Die blaue Stunde II
THOMAS LAUDERDALE + MEOW MEOW LIVE
March 19-Sacramento, CA-Crest Theatre
March 20-Stanford, CA-Bing Concert Hall
March 21-Los Angeles, CA-Masonic Lodge
March 24-Boston, MA-Berklee Performance Center
March 25- Washington, DC-Lincoln Theatre
March 26-Philadelphia, PA-World Cafe Live
March 28-New York, NY-Sony Hall
March 29-Evanston, IL-Space
March 31-Seattle, WA-Triple Door
April 1-Portland, OR-Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
(with the Oregon Symphony)
