Pink Martini has always thrived on a certain swashbuckling spirit.
Their eclectic set lists shift from standards to classical to jazz and Latin, all with a dose of footloose frivolity.
They've collaborated with guest artists as diverse as Japanese guitarist Hiroshi Wada, the von Trapps and the cast of "Sesame Street."
Thomas Lauderdale founded Pink Martini on a lark 21 years ago, and it quickly became the "house band" in Portland for progressive causes like equal rights and affordable housing.
The band added vocalist China Forbes and became a full-time occupation. Their debut album, "Sympathique," and a single of the same name became international hits, earning nominations in the French version of the Grammy Awards.
"I never thought of it as a career," Lauderdale said. "It's this fun, fabulous thing. We made the first album and found ourselves touring in France, and suddenly it's a career."
Pink Martini has grown into a band of anywhere between 10 to 12 regular players, earning the "little orchestra" moniker with a mix of strings, horns, percussion and Lauderdale on piano.
Forbes and Storm Large, who will be with the band in Alaska, often swap singing duties as the band takes audiences on an expedition through genres and generations.
"We've been described as Lawrence Welk on acid," Lauderdale said.
There are elements of lounge and theatrical music in the act, but Lauderdale said the end goal is to engage the audience, regardless of the song.
"I feel like if I'm entertained doing it, then hopefully others will come, and I think the challenge is to have everybody be part of it," he said. "It's constantly evolving. The big thing is making an atmosphere, that by the end of the night, the people in the audience feel enthusiastic enough to end up in a conga line. That's the goal."
The band has performed worldwide with an almost ridiculous range of guest stars, including puppeteer Basil Twist, comedian Carol Channing, Latin entertainer Rita Moreno and most recently, a Portland ballet company.
"It's not at all typical," Lauderdale said. "It's an old-fashioned repertoire with a global sensibility. It seems preposterous, somehow it's working. I guess we feel very fortunate and surprised."
An all-Alaska assist
And now, what Lauderdale developed into a "little orchestra" is taking on a new cohort -- Alaska high school students.
During their weeklong tour of the state, the Portland, Oregon, based group will share the stage for a few songs with music students during performances in Homer and Kodiak.
"It's been amazing to work with all of these groups and organizations," Lauderdale said. "The collaborations are what keep me entertained. Hopefully, there's always somebody coming and going. It keeps it from becoming stale or tired. ... We always wanted to do something with young people and getting them on stage to perform with us. We're trying it out, and I think it's going to be great."
In Kodiak, the opportunity to perform with professional musicians is especially rare.
"We're really fortunate that Pink Martini is willing to take risks with kids on stage," said Dale Lhotka, band director at the high school in Kodiak, where percussionist Richie McKinney and tenor saxophonist Ellen Carty will take the stage.
"I was pretty astonished," Carty said. "We don't get a lot of jazz music around Kodiak. To get that opportunity is really exciting. We're excited to get with the group and see how they improvise."
Carty and McKinney are both members of the All-Alaska Jazz Band, featured every year at the Sitka Jazz Festival.
"It's a good opportunity for me and good for the younger kids to see that performing with a band like this isn't out of reach," McKinney said.
In Homer, school band instructor Amy Johnson said horn player Miles Catlin and clarinet and sax player Carly McLean were obvious picks to join the band.
"Choosing Miles and Carly was pretty easy," Johnson said via email. "They are two of the seniors in my band, and both of them are great leaders."
Catlin is considering a career as a music teacher, and is fairly confident in his ability to acclimate to the group.
"If it's a little easier, it'll be totally fine," he said. "If they make me play in the middle of the stage all alone, (I might be a little nervous)."
Pink Martini with singer Storm Large
Monday at Mariner Theatre in Homer
Tickets: $35
Wednesday at Gerald C. Wilson Auditorium in Kodiak
Tickets: $30/$35/$40
Sept. 18-19, Atwood Concert Hall
Tickets: $108.25/$66/$54.75/$43.75 at centertix.net
Sept. 20, Centennial Hall Convention Center in Juneau
Tickets: $35/$45