Comprised of world-class musicians and driven by a genuine love of classic video game music, the 8-Bit Big Band has gone viral with a salsa/mambo version of the Super Mario Bros. theme as well as a modern jazz take on Zelda’s Lullaby. The ensemble has even released a version of the Tetris Theme that blends the classical music of Tchaikovsky and Chopin with traditional klezmer and modern dubstep to create a musical experience that spans continents and centuries.
For its latest project, the 8-Bit Big Band has taken things a step further by joining forces with actor, singer, and musician George Salazar, who actually played the Super Mario Bros. live along with a 65-piece orchestra and big band with choir. With Salazar “on the controller” adding key sound effects, this piece really brings arcade nerds and music fans together (although the band didn’t seem to like it when Mario died mid-song!).