Lettuce with the Colorado Symphony

About this movie

In November 2018, future funk pioneers Lettuce checked off a major item on their bucket list by collaborating with the Colorado Symphony to perform 90+ minutes of music from their expansive catalog with a full symphony orchestra. The performance at the esteemed Boettcher Concert Hall at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts has been encapsulated in a live album and concert film. Lettuce with the Colorado Symphony will be available on DVD, CD, a 3-disc LP collection, digital streaming platforms, and Dolby Atmos for a revolutionary sound experience on February 28, 2025. Lettuce worked with the Colorado Symphonys Chief Artistic Director, Tony Pierce, to arrange the bands repertoire quickly and precisely. Price got together with drummer Adam Deitch, where Deitch expressed his vision of the arrangements and he efficiently executed the groups dream symphonic funk sound. The vision is evident in the opening song "Mt. Crushmore" where Lettuce horns Ryan Zoidis (saxophones) and Eric "Benny" Bloom (trumpet) usher in a monumental fanfare that is soon joined by full brass and string sections displaying the grandeur for the night ahead. Under the direction of conductor Chris Dragon, the band was able to communicate effortlessly and organically between Lettuces six-member ensemble and orchestra of over 80 musicians, with prominent cues often signaled by Deitch and guitarist Adam "Shmeeans" Smirnoff. On curating which songs would fit best for orchestral arrangements, Deitch shares, "We are all diehard 90s hip hop heads so we chose songs of ours that were closer to what we envisioned would work as our vision of orchestral, instrumental hip-hop." A prime example of showcasing the symphony's ability to stir emotions is "Madison Square" with an intro motif and melodic permutation based off of the 3-note rhythm of the songs primary melody. It exudes signature elements of symphony orchestration with lush string countermelodies, majestic brass heralds, and thundering percussion. Lettuce with the Colorado Symphony will present two songs that are never-before-recorded and released: "New Intro" that is chock full of buoyant arpeggios and measured tremolos and the brass-heavy "Requiem" with layers of pizzicato strings and sliding trombone work that epitomize the orchestral setting and set the stage for exemplary debut releases into the Lettuce catalog. Since the November 2018 performance, Lettuce has gone on to perform with The Colorado Symphony at Red Rocks Amphitheater and will be joined by the orchestra once again at Mission Ballroom in Denver, Colorado on March 2, 2025. The group has presented orchestra collaborations that include performances with the San Diego Symphony, The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, and an upcoming performance with the Nashville Symphony on April 30, 2025, most of which have been under the direction of Dragon. "Collaborating with Lettuce has always been an electrifying experience, and were thrilled to celebrate the release of this album showcasing the magic we've created together," shares Tony Pierce on his arranging work with the group, "From unforgettable performances at Red Rocks to dynamic shows at Boettcher Concert Hall, Lettuce has been a tremendous part of our Colorado community and an incredible partner for the Colorado Symphony. This album is a testament to the power of blending musical worlds and the extraordinary energy that comes from such collaborations." "We are so excited for our fabulous fans to hear this grandiose piece of art that we are so proud of," seconds Deitch on achieving the vision of working with a full orchestra and continuously diversifying the bands eclectic partnerships over their career that spans over three decades.

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