ABOUT US
Our Mission
WAITIKI INTERNATIONAL LLC is a Boston-based collective that promotes the revitalization of mid-century ‘tiki’ pop culture and the preservation/resurgence of exotica music. Our artists are the highest-quality professionals—including our award-winning, and critically-acclaimed flagship ensemble, The WAITIKI 7.
Through its support for live exotica music, master mixologists of tiki cocktails, tiki artwork, and other tiki collectibles, WAITIKI INTERNATIONAL is helping to define 21st century tiki.
Institutional History
Started on a whim in 2003 by Randy Wong and Abe Lagrimas Jr., WAITIKI INTERNATIONAL’s focus has always been on live exotica music, and its initial musical incarnations have garnered praise and critical acclaim throughout the world. In 2005, the quartet headlined the Hawai’i International Jazz Festival, performing a musical farewell to the late Martin Denny, father of the Exotica genre. Later that same year, the group made its debut at The Hukilau Festival in Fort Lauderdale, FL, where they performed at the legendary Mai-Kai Restaurant and alongside Robert Drasnin (composer/bandleader of the hit album Voodoo!). In 2006, the group became known in Mexico when its side project, the 20-piece WAITIKI “Orchestrotica” performed original big band arrangements inspired by Juan Garcia Esquivel at Mexico City’s Festival de Mexico, an annual international event that celebrates Mexican culture and the arts.
Two groups organized by WAITIKI INTERNATIONAL have won Hawaii Music Awards. The original WAITIKI quartet won Hawaii Music Awards for its albums, “Charred Mammal Flesh: Exotic Music for BBQ”, and “Rendezvous in Okonkuluku” (respectively). The group’s first win (in 2007) was a dual honor, in that the category (Exotica Album of the Year) was created for WAITIKI INTERNATIONAL, in recognition of its efforts for bringing exotic tiki music back to popularity. WAITIKI INTERNATIONAL’s CEO and Music Director Randy Wong also received a nomination in the 2007 Ontario Independent Music Awards (Canada) for “Best USA Song” for his exotica composition “Cave of Uldo”.
In addition to its exotic music, WAITIKI INTERNATIONAL is also known for its original drink menu; a collection of ‘mid-century-esque’ Polynesian cocktails crafted especially for the band by some of the world’s best known mixologists: including the Okonkulukooler by Jeff “Beach Bum” Berry, the Maharaja’s Revenge by Brother Cleve (of Combustible Edison), and the Wai Niu by Kern Mattei (GM of the Mai Kai restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, FL).
Personnel
Musicians on our active roster include:
- WINDS
Tim Mayer (of La Clave Secreta, Horacio “El Negro” Hernandez) • TimMayerMusic.com
Bill Vint (of Mike Stern)
VIBES
Jim Benoit • JimBenoit.com
Abe Lagrimas Jr. (of Don Tiki) • AbrahamLagrimasJr.com
Greg Paré
PIANO
Zaccai Curtis (of Cindy Blackman, VW commercials, Brian Lynch, Curtis Brothers, Paquito D’Rivera) • CurtisBrothersMusic.com
DRUMS
Abe Lagrimas Jr. (of Bop Tribal, Prelude) • AbrahamLagrimasJr.com
Mark Walker (of Paquito D’Rivera) • Wiggage.com
Dave Brophy (of Will Dailey) • MySpace.com/DaveBrophyDrums
UPRIGHT BASS
Randy Wong • RandyWong.net
Keala Kaumehiewa (Thelonious Monk Institute alum)
PERCUSSION
Lopaka Colon (of Makana, Pure Heart, Mick Fleetwood’s Island Rumours)
Richie Bravo (of Christina Aguilera, Marc Anthony, Chuck Bergeron Big Band)
Ricardo Monzon (Berklee faculty & Boston Pops member)
Ernesto Diaz (of Dave Samuels, Danilo Perez, Oscar Stagnaro & Berklee Faculty)
STRINGS
Helen Liu, violin • HelenGLiu.info
Abe Lagrimas Jr., uke (Universal JP and Sony BMG/Asia recording artist) • AbrahamLagrimasJr.com
VOICE
Charles Morgan
Steve Marvin
BRASS
Mike Dease, trombone (of Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, Roy Hargrove Big Band, Charles Tolliver Big Band) • MikeDease.com
Mixologists & Chefs we’ve worked with include:
- BOSTON
John Gertsen (of Drink Fort Point, Barbara Lynch’s No. 9 Park)
NATIONAL
Brother Cleve (of Tales of the Cocktail, Combustible Edison)
Jeff “Beachbum” Berry (of Tales of the Cocktail, Museum of the American Cocktail) • BeachBumBerry.com
Sandra Wu (of Cooks Illustrated, William-Sonoma Test Kitchen)
FLORIDA
Kern Mattei (of the Mai Kai Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale)
See Also: