Right now all of the reviews here are for Waitiki 7’s new album, “Adventures in Paradise.” I will keep this page up to date with all reviews for that as they surface.
Tom Bock of the Westchester (NY) Herald writes a rave review in the Herald’s Sept. 7, 2009 issue:
This debut CD from The Waitiki 7, Adventures in Paradise, raises the bar extremely high for both the group and their representatives [Fully Altered Media] … To the romantic trying to set the mood, this needs to be on your must-have list. And to any music lover looking to relax after a hard day’s grind, you’ll need to go no farther than Adventures in Paradise.
Download the Westchester Herald’s review of Adventures in Paradise (PDF)
Some nice words from Pete Hund of GoodNewMusic.com
[The Waitiki 7] is an exotica jam band that updates the genre by augmenting the requisite vibraphone with plenty of sax and violin and often employing dead-serious jazz improvisation.
Read the full review at GoodNewMusic.com
Doug Simpson of Audiophile Audition Web Magazine says-
“…The group members’ jazz, classical and other backgrounds provide Adventures in Paradise a wellspring to draw from…Benoit’s warm tone, it should be noted, emanates from a vintage and rare Vibraharp Model 145, the first mallet instrument with a damper pedal and electric motor, and the textures Benoit coaxes from the hand- crafted instrument are wonderful. Anyone who knows exotica understands the vibraphone is the heart of any undertaking: it contributes harmonics and supplements the orchestral sonorities, and adds lyrical qualities to solo stretches, or textural terrain when it accompanies other musicians…”
See full review at:
http://www.audaud.com/article?ArticleID=6311
Corf Frye’s Review for Undertheradarmag.com-
“… They melt into each other, complete each other’s thoughts, and maintain a compelling flow over the distant perpetual cool of Jim Benoit’s vibes, which, like Colon’s calls, dab the canvas with an extra splash of color (can’t imagine “Manila” without those drops) and smooth the edges of Zaccai Curtis’ often-chomping piano (”Left Arm of Buddha”). Benoit and Curtis collaborate to a different end on “Her Majesty’s Pearl,” painting wondrous landscapes over the hushed rush of foamy falls and a lovely interlude from violinist Helen Liu, whose subsequent slide between Benoit’s vibe dots and Wong’s bass jaunt sets up a most astonishing personal showcase on “L’ours Chinois,” where she memorably flaunts her stuff…”
see full review at:
http://www.undertheradarmag.com/reviews/adventures_in_paradise/
J. Simpson of Weirdomusic.com says-
“…Waitiki 7 are transcending time and space, resurrecting spectres of vanished musical styles and making them dance on the rim of dormant volcanoes. This is vibrant and exciting music, full of dashing and daring-do, captured brilliantly by the folks at Q-Studios in Somerville, Mass…”
see full review at:
http://www.weirdomusic.com/reviews/waitiki7/adventuresinparadise.htm
Greg Haymes’ review today in Nippertown!, online magazine-
“…And while the W7, of course, pay tribute to such exotica pioneers as Martin Denny – “Manila” and “Left Arm of Buddha” are both Denny compositions – and Les Baxter – represented by the album’s opening track, “Coronation” –
this is no mere tribute band.
In fact, seven of the album’s selections are original tunes, including such highlights as the lilting violin-driven “L’ours Chinois” and the zany, cartoon-soundtrack-like “Ned’s Redemption” (which features vibraphonist Jim Benoit switching over to xylophone).
The album is rounded out with a pair of jazz gems – Lee Morgan’s “Totem Pole” and Duke Ellington’s classic “Mood Indigo” – before wrapping up with the album’s title track – Lionel Newman’s theme song for the 1959 network TV series of the same name starring Gardner McKay…”
see full review at:
http://www.nippertown.com/2009/08/21/the-waitiki-7s-adventures-in-paradise
Named one of “This Week’s Best Albums” in ALARM Magazine, Scott Merrow says-
“Celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hawaii’s statehood, the Waitiki 7 balances a thematic tribute to Martin Denny and musical stars of yore with piano-driven Latin sounds, modern jazz, lounge, and film motifs. Adventures in Paradise, as the name suggests, could double as the soundtrack for a cheery private-dick mystery flick, calling upon exotic vocal calls, flute, horns, and vibraphone to create just the right mood.”
Grady Winn of CampusCircle.com says-
“I was pleasantly surprised with the ancient yet melodic sound found on the band’s new album,Adventures in Paradise. The songs were reminiscent of a tropical jungle with a hypnotizing blend of animal sounds and instrumental beats.”
Jon Young of Mother Jones Magazine says:
“Fire up the tiki torches. Break out the umbrella drinks. The debut of Hawaii’s Waitiki 7 harks back a half-century to the golden age of exotica , when lounge-music giants like Martin Denny walked the Earth . Yet Adventures in Paradise’s exotic bird noises and camp camouflage virtuoso musicianship. A cover of jazz great Lee Morgan’s “Totem Pole” showcases a mesmerizing sax-trumpet [sic] dialogue, while the sleek violin of “Mood Indigo” would please Duke Ellington himself. And you can’t top the title track, the theme from a mediocre ’60s adventure series, for cheesy fun.”