The Bad Plus

Originally founded in 2000 as a piano trio, the Minnesota-based band is known for its masterful combination of avant-garde jazz with modern rock and pop elements, which is particularly evident in its unconventional interpretations of well-known indie rock songs. Having grown into a quartet in 2021, The Bad Plus took the radical step of changing their instrumentation and thus the band’s sound after the departure of founding member Ethan Iverson (p). Founding members Reid Anderson (b) and Dave King (dr) are now supported by Chris Speed (sax) and Ben Monder (git) instead of the piano. What hasn’t changed is the highly precise and dynamic interplay that thrives on the understated virtuosity of each member. Especially when performing live, the band achieves a level of excellence that is extremely rare to see.