The Bad Plus

Biography

The Bad Plus is an American jazz group formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2000, though the members began playing together informally starting in 1989.[2][3] The band was originally conceived as a piano trio featuring pianist Ethan Iverson, bassist Reid Anderson, and drummer Dave King, all hailing from the Midwest (Reid and Dave from Minnesota, Ethan from Wisconsin).[3] From their debut in 2000, The Bad Plus distinguished themselves by refusing to conform to jazz conventions, blending original compositions with unconventional covers spanning genres from ABBA and Nirvana to Aphex Twin and Black Sabbath.[4][5] Their 2001 debut album Flim became a watershed moment for redefining the piano trio genre, drawing new audiences to jazz through their brash, clever approach that combined the heart of stadium rock with sophisticated musicianship.[3]

After 27 years as a trio, Ethan Iverson departed the band in 2017 due to differences regarding the production process.[2] Pianist Orrin Evans joined in early 2018, and the band released two acclaimed albums including 2019's Activate Infinity on Edition Records.[1] However, in 2021, founding members Reid Anderson and Dave King made a bold creative decision to abandon the piano-trio format entirely, enlisting guitarist Ben Monder (known for work with David Bowie's Black Star and other visionary projects) and saxophonist Chris Speed (an award-winning leader of modern ensembles and longtime collaborator with Anderson and King).[1][4] This quartet iteration, unveiled officially in September 2021 at Yoshi's in Oakland, California, represents the band's second major reinvention and marks their most expansive sonic range to date.[4]

Throughout their 26-year history, The Bad Plus have maintained a democratic creative philosophy centered on bridging genres and exploring the infinite possibilities of exceptional musicians working in perfect synchronization.[5][7] The band's evolution reflects their core belief that "evolution is necessary for life and creativity," with each iteration maintaining their original statement while employing completely different instrumentation.[1] Their influence extends across jazz, experimental jazz, jazz fusion, and nu jazz genres, establishing them as one of the most enduring and acclaimed working bands in contemporary jazz.[4]

Fun Facts

• The Bad Plus performed an infamous version of 'My Funny Valentine' where pianist Ethan Iverson sang from underneath the piano, exemplifying their experimental and unconventional approach to jazz standards.[4]
• Guitarist Ben Monder was in the audience at The Bad Plus' first live show in New York at the Brooklyn club Roulette in December 2001, over 20 years before joining the band as a full member in 2021.[4]
• The band's early covers included jazz versions of Nirvana's 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' and ABBA's 'Knowing You, Knowing Me,' establishing their reputation for ingenious and unconventional reinterpretations of popular songs across multiple genres.[2]
• All three original members of The Bad Plus hailed from the Midwest, with Reid Anderson and Dave King from Minnesota and Ethan Iverson from Wisconsin, giving the band strong regional roots.[3]

Members

• Ethan Iverson - original, piano (from 2000 until 2017-12-31)
• Reid Anderson - double bass, original (from 2000)
• Dave King - drums (drum set), original (from 2000)
• Orrin Evans - piano (from 2018-01-01 until 2021-03-13)
• Ben Monder - electric guitar (from 2021)
• Chris Speed - tenor saxophone (from 2021)

Original Members

• Reid Anderson - double bass, original
• Dave King - drums (drum set), original
• Ben Monder - electric guitar
• Chris Speed - tenor saxophone

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Fred Hersch - Classical piano instructor and influence on pianist Ethan Iverson's musical development (Iverson's piano studies) [1990s]
• Sophia Rosoff - Classical pianist and educator who influenced Ethan Iverson's approach to the instrument (Iverson's piano studies) [1990s]
• Geddy Lee / Rush - Musical inspiration for Reid Anderson's bass playing; Anderson was drawn to the bass after hearing Rush in a radio advertisement (Rush recordings) [1980s-1990s]

Key Collaborators

• Ben Monder - Guitarist who joined The Bad Plus in 2021 as part of the quartet reinvention; visionary musician known for work with David Bowie and other leaders (The Bad Plus (2021 quartet album), Black Star (David Bowie)) [2021-present]
• Chris Speed - Tenor saxophonist who joined The Bad Plus in 2021; award-winning leader and longtime musical collaborator with Anderson and King (The Bad Plus (2021 quartet album)) [2021-present]
• Orrin Evans - Pianist who replaced Ethan Iverson in 2018; collaborated on two acclaimed albums before the band's 2021 transition to quartet format (Activate Infinity (2019), other Bad Plus recordings 2018-2021) [2018-2021]
• Ethan Iverson - Founding member and pianist who shaped the band's original sound and approach for 27 years (Flim (2001), These are the Vistas (2003), all piano trio era recordings) [1989-2017]

Artists Influenced

• Contemporary Jazz Musicians - The Bad Plus' unconventional approach to genre-blending and cover reinterpretation has influenced modern jazz ensembles to explore beyond traditional jazz boundaries (Various contemporary jazz and experimental jazz artists) [2000-present]

External Links

• Spotify
• [Wikipedia](Not found in search results)
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #jazz, #jazz-and-blues, #post-bop