Martin Denny fans will be glad to discover the old man of exotica still at the piano. More than just a tribute or
Denny's latest band,
Don Tiki already seems more accomplished in several ways than
the Martin Denny Group at its peak. First, highest credit must go to leader "Perry Coma" (
Kit Ebersbach) for writing 3/4 of the debut CD's 13 tracks. (
Denny wrote and plays on "Exotica '97" and the closing piano indulgence, "Forever & Ever.") In addition, ad guru
Lloyd Kandell has done a first-rate job of packaging and promotion. Also thanks to
Kandell, the band reaches the essence of "cocktail culture" without trampling Hawaii.