Nu Deco Ensemble is a Miami-based, contemporary hybrid orchestra (called “a chamber orchestra for the 21st century” by The New York Times) whose work has included collaborations with Wyclef Jean, Tune-Yards, PJ Morton, Macy Gray, Jacob Collier, Ben Folds and others. The Ensemble has reimagined versions of tracks by artists including Daft Punk, Outkast and classic rock artists as well as new music from some of today’s most exciting living composers. Nu Deco was founded by conductor Jacomo Bairos (who has led orchestras including the Boston Pops, San Francisco and St. Louis Symphonies) and composer/arranger/producer Sam Hyken (a composer commissioned by orchestras and artists including Angelique Kidjo, Bad Bunny, Tank and the Bangas, and many others) — two of classical music’s most in-demand and adventurous figures.
Since its inception in 2015, Nu Deco Ensemble has exploded onto Miami’s eclectic musical scene, captivating audiences in both traditional concert venues and alternative local venues, and fusing innovative, genre-bending orchestral performances and collaborations with the highest levels of musical artistry — leading Billboard to call their music “sonically spellbinding.” The Ensemble released a self-titled debut album in 2019, and Humans vs Robots – An Orchestral Tribute to Daft Punk in 2020. Nu Deco is reimagining what an orchestra can achieve today. It is a flexible and innovative hybrid orchestra that celebrates living composers, reimagines all genres of music, provides education programs for Miami’s young people, and collaborates with a wide range of diverse musical guests, composers, choreographers, dancers, and mixed media artists.
The ensemble also announced today that it has received a generous donation from The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation at The Miami Foundation, as a part of this year’s CreARTE grants program. The grants, which total more than $3.2 million, will be distributed over the next two years and will support a total of 25 South Florida nonprofits in their efforts to cultivate a vibrant, connected, and culturally stimulating community. First established in 2019, CreARTE aims to bridge gaps in key areas impacting the creative community most, including access to affordable workspaces, cultural equity, and education.
Through their youth initiatives, Nu Deco Ensemble helps foster the artistry and development of Miami’s young musicians. With Nu Deco Imagination, they inspire and engage over 10,000 children annually through this interactive series, which includes live-streamed education concerts, field trips to performances, in-school performances and workshops at schools across Miami-Dade County, and their youth ensemble, Nu Deco NXT.
The ensemble will release a new Beach Boys suite, Still Cruisin’ – An Orchestral Tribute to The Beach Boys on November 10th. The suite will include reimagining of material from The Beach Boys’ landmark album Pet Sounds, their unfinished SMiLE project, and older songs. Nu Deco Ensemble Co-Founder and Artistic Director Sam Hyken who arranged the music in collaboration with Jason Matthews, Aaron Lebos and Armando Lopez, explains: “With always having the intention of bringing something fresh and new to this incredible music, the work creates new harmonic and groove environments, expands on and plays with famous melodies and motifs, and also pays tribute to the genius instrumentation and orchestration inherent in the original songs. Personally speaking, the music of The Beach Boys is some of my absolute favorite, and has musically impacted me since childhood.”
Today Glide is excited to premiere Still Cruisin’ in its entirety. The album is grandiose and explosive, breathing new light into these timeless songs. Unlike a traditional orchestra, Nu Deco injects elements of rock and roll, prog, pop, salsa, jazz and even Frank Zappa-esque psychedelia into their music. Instead of offering straight renditions of the Beach Boys tunes, the orchestra takes a more expansive and creative approach. Each track is brimming with energy and excitement, making this a compelling and downright fun listen.
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Photo Credit: Alex Markow
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