Last Updated January 17th, 2009 and tagged in albums, merchandise, press releases

Official Press Release

Featuring Hawaiian, hapa-haole, and tiki tunes once made famous by Alfred Apaka, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole, Martin Denny, and others, Magic Island Sounds: the wedding album will delight those from the Pacific and beyond. Its purposely lighter-fare arrangements make the album’s music the perfect backdrop for weddings, bridal showers, and retirement parties alike.

All music on this album is newly-recorded and features the talents of WAITIKI’s many musicians—in combinations previously unheard or recorded.

Produced by WAITIKI bandleader Randy Wong and violinist Helen Liu as a musical tribute to the great love songs of old Hawaii, the idea behind Magic Island Sounds was to create an album that they could use for processional and recessional music at their own wedding—and is thusly subtitled, “The Wedding Album.” In addition to the talents of Wong (who provides the arrangements, original compositions, and upright bass playing) and Liu, the album’s line-up includes flutist Tim Mayer, pianist Zaccai Curtis, percussionist Lopaka Colon, vibraphonist Jim Benoit, and multi-instrumentalist Abe Lagrimas Jr. (all of whom are members of the band’s newest project, The WAITIKI All-Star Exotica Septet). Jazz vocalist Charles Morgan makes his WAITIKI debut as well.

The album also pays respect to presents performances of two of Wong’s original compositions: “Sweet Pikake Serenade”, a ballad inspired by Arthur Lyman and dedicated to Mr. Lyman and Mun Charn Wong (Wong’s grandfather), and “L’ours chinois”, a miniature concerto for violin written for, and featuring Helen Liu.

Album/group contact info:

Randy Wong, bandleader

E-mail: randy@waitiki.com

Phone: 617.771.7971 or 808.554.5042 (808 # for Hawaii callers only, please)

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