Tokyo’s Nintendo Switch event featured amazing jazz covers of classic game music

Nintendo finally provided more details on the Nintendo Switch during an event held in Tokyo last weekend, but if you’re a Nintendo fan, there was something even better at the showcase: a live big band playing jazz covers of music from Nintendo games. Known as the Nintendo Special Big Band, the 18-piece (!) group kicked off its set with a swinging tune from the 1994 Super Nintendo hit Donkey Kong Country, “DK Island Swing.” (You can hear the original song here.) Following an introduction, the band riffed on tracks from beloved Nintendo series such as Kirby, Animal Crossing, The Legend of Zelda, Fire Emblem, Mario Kart and, of course, Super Mario Bros. Footage from the games was projected behind them as they played for the better part of an hour.