The 8-Bit Big Band has landed not one but two Grammy nominations for its latest album, Orchestrator Emulator — and frankly, it’s about time. The album is up for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album, while “Super Mario Praise Break” is nominated for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella, credited to Charlie Rosen, Bryan Carter, and Matthew Whitaker.
What makes the album stand out
If you haven’t encountered The 8-Bit Big Band before, imagine the “great video game songbook” reimagined by a sprawling, wildly talented jazz orchestra. Wii Sports, Breath of the Wild, Sonic 2, Persona 5, Metroid, Undertale, Mario — all rebuilt with crisp, modern big-band arrangements that somehow feel both nostalgic and fresh.
Orchestrator Emulator features over 75 musicians, and you can absolutely hear it. The writing is detailed, the performances are huge, and the whole thing feels like a celebration of game music at its best.
“Super Mario Praise Break” brings gospel energy
“Super Mario Praise Break” might be one of the band’s most interesting arrangements yet: a gospel-inspired tribute to the emotional role games play for so many people — comfort, escape, community. Rosen, Carter, and Whitaker fuse two musical traditions that rarely collide, and it works.
For Whitaker, it’s his first Grammy nomination; Rosen and Carter, meanwhile, add this to a growing list of accolades, including past nominations and wins for other 8-Bit Big Band arrangements and Broadway orchestrations.
A celebration — with one disappointment
The only real downer? I missed them at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire in October. As someone who’d genuinely travel to see this band live, it’s frustrating to see their tour dates limited largely to US cities lik Boston, LA, and New York for now. Their shows sell out everywhere, so here’s hoping they finally make a jump across the Atlantic to play a wider selection of shows in the UK.
What’s next
The Grammy Awards take place on February 1, 2026, and whether they win or not, The 8-Bit Big Band is clearly operating at the top of its game. If they ever make it back to the UK, I’ll be first in line.
Learn more about the 8-Bit Big Band and find them on Spotify via their website, www.the8bitbigband.com.
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
