Aside from the completely over-dramatic intro, it's a slightly odd version of the James Bond theme, and I've heard complaints it's missing the exciting climactic bit the James Bond theme has at its heart (although, admittedly, that does need a lot more notes).
Anyway, the idea of musical robots has inspired me to locate a few more fantastic music/robot based videos, for your internet joy.
FluteBot WF-4RIV and SaxBot WAS-1
Admittedly not classic jazz names, but these guys can sure duet on the flute and sax. Watch FluteBot's 'lungs' go up and down, and his fingers playing the keys. Also, the HAT (also, the eyebrows, and what we suspect might be a moustache)! SaxBot is a bit more R2D2 to his C3PO, but otherwise they make a fine musical duo.
Toyota's Robot Quartet
This lovely video shows a performance by four robots (two trumpets, tuba and drums). Having seen the quadrotors above and asked myself, can't there just be a robot that's got a musical instrument built in, so it could be better at playing it? Here's my answer. I love the drummer, and his little bass pedal at the front.
Robot Violinist
Another bit of genius from Toyota - the robot comes out looking impressive, and the audience waits with bated breath - then it turns out he's just playing a simple tune, and not hugely well. The best part is 'consumer robots could be widely used in homes, hospitals and factories by 2010'. Yep, they're pretty much in all of those places now. Playing the violin all over the place.
Lev, the ThereminBot and his friend Thumpbot
And to finish, what robot music post would be complete without reference to the Theremin, the musical instrument that's kind of a robot itself. This one is controlled by a robot with two little arms, waving them around in what I like to call the 'theramin zone'. And it's paired up with ThumpBot, a fantastic robot made of household objects being hit by little drumsticks, including a box of crackers and an empty jar. Between them they manage to rustle up a not-completely-terrible version of that song that one guy does. I would totally love to have these guys in the corner of my house at a party.
