“Animal Crossing ended up being a kind of savior for a lot of people in lockdown,” Mahanthappa says. For those who somehow managed to avoid the craze, Animal Crossing players take on adorable animal avatars, which can interact with other players within the game’s virtual world. While the choice may reflect the fact that Mahanthappa has two young children at home, allowing the lilting theme to worm its way into his brain and take hold, the game – much like the Hero Trio itself – fulfills a vital need just below its playful surface.
“The idea behind Hero Trio was to turn the idea of playing a set of standards on its ear and freshen up the idea,” the saxophonist explains.Īnd yes, that includes the title tune – the theme song for the wildly popular video game that became ubiquitous during lockdown. Animal Crossing is a digital-only EP featuring four new songs, each an unlikely addition to the canon of jazz standards. But the mid-2020 release of their self-titled debut also meant that most audiences were deprived of seeing them in person – great for maintaining secret identities, less ideal for celebrating live music.But like any great superhero, Mahanthappa and the Hero Trio are back with a much-anticipated sequel. No, it’s Rudresh Mahanthappa’s Hero Trio! The Caped Composer and his intrepid trio with bassist François Moutin and drummer Rudy Royston first assembled when the world needed them most, at the height of the pandemic.
Listen! Up on all digital streaming services! It’s a Bird.
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