Jazz News: Lettuce tours with GZA, André 3000 at Berklee, Nintendo music stream

This is Jazz News, a look at what’s news in jazz, music and the arts.

Fresh off a smash performance with BTTRFLY QUINTET at KUVO studios and Cervantes’ Other Side last week, members of the band Lettuce have announced a winter tour with GZA aka The Genius of Wu-Tang Clan fame. The Get Up Tour features the hip-hop legend performing “Liquid Swords” in its 30th-anniversary entirety in seven of the 16 announced cities… but the Denver date on March 2 features the Colorado Symphony at the Mission Ballroom. Let the grassroots campaign begin to get GZA to join Lettuce and the CSO in Denver on March 2, 2025! (SOURCE: Jambands.com/GZA & Lettuce – 2025 Tour)

After his Grammy nominations for the abstract flute album “New Blue Sun,” André 3000 told students at the Berklee School of Music that percussionist-producer Carlos Niño introduced him to “a way of recording that was completely in-the-moment. I just try to keep myself excited with what I’m doing, … and that leads to exploration,” said Mr. Benjamin.

Keyboardist and co-producer Surya Botofasina told the Berklee music students they can avoid becoming formulaic by not criticizing other artists. “Be a fan of music who happens to be at an instrument; or use your own personal instrument, your voice.” Drummer-producer Deantoni Parks describes their recordings and concerts as “just deep listening to each other.”  (SOURCE: Berklee Now-News – André 3000l)

Not only did the 8-Bit Big Band get a Grammy nomination for “Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals”) for their cover of “Last Surprise” from the 2017 game Persona 5, but now there’s a new music streaming service that is dedicated to the music of Nintendo video games. Background atmospheric tunes from Mario, Zelda, and Donkey Kong are among the 60 hours of music, and more than a million subscribers are already on board. The video game music analyst on YouTube Ben Kidd told NPR Music the attraction of nostalgic feelings and great composers is a powerful draw. (SOURCE: NPR Nintendo Music App)

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