The WAITIKI 7: "L'Ours Chinois"

A live performance of Randy Wong's exotica composition, "L'Ours Chinois" (French for "The Chinese Bear"), by The WAITIKI 7. Helen Liu, the group's violinist, is featured on this piece—a mini-concerto written in the style of Fritz Kreisler, Maurice Ravel, and exotica chief Martin Denny.

This work was initially written by Wong for the original WAITIKI quartet, and later extended and re-orchestrated for the Project Copernicus chamber orchestra of Miami, FL (commission by conductor Chung Park), to which the piece received rave reviews by critic Greg Stepanich of the Palm Beach Post. The adaptation for The WAITIKI All-Star Exotica Septet is the most recent version, and is already a favorite amongst the group's members.

For more information about The WAITIKI All-Star Exotica Septet, and its contributions to the resurgence of Exotica and the related tiki culture, please visit www.WAITIKI.com.

Taped November 1, 2008 at Liberty Hall (Lawrence, KS) for the 500th Broadcast Anniversary of Kansas Public Radio's "Retro Cocktail Hour." Videography by Jack Healy of Healy Video Services.

Band members of The WAITIKI All-Star Exotica Septet are: Tim Mayer (flutes, sax), Helen Liu (violin), Jim Benoit (vibes), Zaccai Curtis (piano), Lopaka Colon (perc/bird calls), Abe Lagrimas Jr. (drums), and Randy Wong (bass).

Category:

Music

Tags:

• exotica
• tiki
• waitiki
• okonkuluku
• martin
• denny
• ravel
• kreisler
• randy
• wong
• helen
• liu
• retro
• concerto
• violin
• chamber
• music
• waitiki7
• W7

[Candiiluv95]

omg it's the waitiki 7, they came to my school to perform and they were so amazing

[drumboy808]

this was one of my favorites of the entire night. helen rocked it! i'll never forget how focused we all must have been reading the chart.

[333peppy333]

This was such an amazing treat. Helen, your feature was gorgeous. The concert was fabulous in every way. Please come back!

Peppy