On May 19 Pink Martini founder Thomas M. Lauderdale, in collaboration with Oregon surf music legends Satan’s Pilgrims, will release Thomas Lauderdale Meets The Pilgrims.  The long-awaited collaboration between two artists dates back to 1993 after Lauderdale stumbled on a Pilgrims’ performance in Portland, and, in a flash, envisioned a surf version of his favorite piece of music, Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.”  Three years later Lauderdale began work on two albums simultaneously.  The first was Pink Martini’s Sympathique, which would go on to launch Lauderdale’s plucky “little orchestra” into world renown, beginning a musical career that is nearing thirty years of touring, with performances in the world’s most famous venues, and which has spanned 11 celebrated studio recordings. The other album that was underway in 1996 was Thomas Lauderdale Meets the Pilgrims. 

Nearly 25 years later, a hiatus from Pink Martini touring during the pandemic led Lauderdale to unearth the project and commit to finishing it. He re-recorded some piano parts with engineer Steve Sundholm, brought in the Portland State University chamber choir to record some choral parts, recruited self-proclaimed “All-American Jewish Lesbian Folk Singer” Phranc to sing on a cover of the Beach Boys “Girls on the Beach,” and created new mixes of eleven songs with engineers Sundholm and Dave Friedlander, to create an album of blazing new interpretations of beloved standards, alongside classic surf music excursions, tied together and infused throughout with Lauderdale’s grand piano.  Today he shares the first taste of the album by way of “Malagueña.” Pre-order Thomas Lauderdale Meets The Pilgrims here.

About the project, Lauderdale says “One hot summer night in 1993 I saw the Pilgrims play, and I fell hard for these über-sexy studs wearing capes, playing irresistible surf instrumentals. I made my way backstage and suggested that we create a surf version of “Rhapsody in Blue.” We started working together soon after. This album is a physical manifestation of an era of unbridled optimism and artistic collaborative spirit in Portland, Oregon’s cultural history.” 

Drummer Ted Pilgrim says, about the collaboration, “Thomas and The Pilgrims share a love of catchy melodies, classic songs, and mid-century art and culture. We both brought our own worlds to this project and enjoyed finding out where they intersected. Thomas’s unique style and vision infused our creative process, and I think he also loved being able to let loose a bit with us.”

On May 18 Lauderdale will perform a record release party at Portland’s Crystal Ballroom.  Tickets are on-sale March 3 and will be available here.  Pink Martini kicks off a massive tour of the US this week, for tickets and all dates, click here.

The Pilgrims’ beloved guitarist Dave (Busacker) Pilgrim, who was integral to the creation and inspiration of this project, passed away unexpectedly in his home in March 2021 due to natural causes, soon after the album project was revived, and this album is dedicated to him.