The Bad Plus

Sunday, March 12, 2022 at 8:00pm at South Orange Performing Arts Center

The Bad Plus

“By any standard, Jazz or otherwise, it is moving, mighty music…bad to the bone, hot players with hard-rock hearts” (Rolling Stone)

“The Bad Plus are the Coen brothers of Jazz: Midwesterners, both ironic and dead earnest, technically brilliant, beyond versatile, a little chilly sometimes, but funny, surprising, and pretty hard to pin down” (The New Yorker)

“One of the great, true groups in Jazz of the past 25 years” (Joshua Redman, an American Jazz saxophonist and composer)

The Bad Plus are the ultimate originals. A democratic unit with a clear vision and a refusal to conform to convention. For the past two decades they have played with spirit and adventure, made their own rules and done so with a bold sense of creativity and intent. Avoiding easy categorization, The Bad Plus has won critical acclaim and a legion of fans worldwide with their unique sound and flair for live performance.

Now in their 21st year, The Bad Plus continues to push boundaries as founding members Reid Anderson (bass) and Dave King (drums) embark on a new piano-less incarnation of the band with Ben Monder (guitar) and Chris Speed (tenor saxophone) – instigating a new wave of excitement and anticipation within the band that is re-energizing their sound and inspiration. The Bad Plus have constantly searched to bridge genres and techniques while exploring the infinite possibilities of exceptional musicians working in perfect sync.