Joystick Jazz: The Blueshift Big Band Bundle (Vol. 1, 2, & 3)

Here’s a riddle for you: What do jazz and video games have in common? If you said “sick combos,” you already know where we’re going with this. 

This is Joystick Jazz: The Blueshift Big Band Bundle, a certified iam8bit original. It’s three volumes worth of sweet, sweet jazz interpretations of your favorite video game music, courtesy of the ultra-talented Blueshift Big Band. They are masters at reimagining video game diddies and bops through the lens of modern jazz, turning out renditions that feel both classic and playful — perfect for decorating the audio background to your work day, or lending a nerdy cocktail party a bit of class (or lending a classy cocktail party a bit of nerd, naturally). 

Volume 1 is packed with tunes from classic titles like Ocarina of Time, Sonic the Hedgehog, and more. Volume 2, meanwhile, calls to mind a smoky, red-leathered jazz club, with new spins on songs from Grim Fandango, Castlevania, and even Kingdom Hearts 3. Finally, Volume 3 is all-Mario, all the time: It’s got renditions from Super Mario Odyssey, Super Mario Kart, Super Mario World and beyond. Bob-Omb Battlefield has never sounded so chic. 

Plus, each volume comes wrapped up in delicious Saul Bass-esque art from iam8bit friend Mark Borgions — a delectable blend of influences, just like the music of Joystick Jazz itself. 

So we ask again: What do jazz and video games have in common? 

The answer, of course: The Blueshift Big Band.