Founded in Portland, Oregon by Thomas Lauderdale in 1994 as an alternative to the staid entertainment typically featured at political fundraisers, Pink Martini has blossomed from its modest roots to become an acclaimed exponent of old-school international pop. Singer China Forbes can sing in 15 different languages, a talent that helps the mini-orchestra seamlessly toggle between French chanson, Brazilian bossa nova, swing, Cuban cha-cha, Portuguese fado, Tin Pan Alley standards, Japanese enka and South African pop—all served up with an effervescent joie de vivre. The ensemble embraces a kitschy cocktail-hour vibe that gives its work a slightly ironic gloss, but its polystylistic mastery reveals a genuine admiration for its material.