Game Changer
Teamchuck, 2023
9/10
This 4th album from an ensemble with a penchant for the video game multiverse, this time around The 8-Bit Big Band also bring the jazz and pops orchestra ideas to these 12 adventurous tunes.
After a brief intro, “Can You Feel the Sunshine?”, from Sonic R, comes with bright drums, swift brass and flowing strings amid the smooth vocals, and “I Wanna Take You for a Ride” takes inspiration from Marvel vs. Capcom 2 for the soulful and funk filled fun that recruits grooves in spades.
In the middle, “Super Bell Hill”, from Super Mario 3D World, is a highly creative meshing of swingin’, jazz fun that benefits much from a piano solo courtesy of Miki Yamanaka, while “Beneath the Mask” spotlights singing by Aisha Jackson and a guitar solo thanks to Nir Felder via the rich climate of beauty.
Close to the end, “Passing Breeze” is a very fluid album highlight that’s populated by Jared Schonig’s drum solo and alto sax by Andrew Gould, and “Last Surprise” exits with Jonah Nilsson’s vocals and synth alongside Jake Silverman’s piano acrobatics in the bright and dreamy finish.
Perhaps best labeled as the '‘Great Video Game Songbook’, though you may have heard these songs before, they’ve never sounded like this, and its makes for an imaginative version of Big Band traditions that you’re not going to hear anywhere else.
Travels well with: The Eyal Vilner Big Band- The Jam!; The Grace Fox Big Band- Eleven O’Seven