CARNEGIE HALL PRESENTS
The Bad Plus

Zankel Hall
Wednesday, December 12th, 2007 at 8:30 PM

The Bad Plus
·· Reid Anderson, Bass
·· Ethan Iverson, Piano
·· David King, Drums

A piano trio that’s anything but ordinary, The Bad Plus is on the front lines of an emerging new alternative music.

Presented by Carnegie Hall in partnership with Festival Productions

The Bad Plus
·· Reid Anderson, Bass
·· Ethan Iverson, Piano
·· David King, Drums
Forget categories and catch phrases—the sound of The Bad Plus is distinctive, eclectic, and formidable. The group has redefined all notions of what a jazz piano trio should sound like, whether at outdoor rock festivals, jazz clubs, or symphony halls. As noted in publications from the Los Angeles Times to Rolling Stone, a diverse array of music lovers has been seduced by The Bad Plus and their earnest, dizzying musicianship.

The group traces its roots to the Midwest; drummer David King and bassist Reid Anderson met as teens in their native Minnesota, bouncing between junior high rock bands and long nights listening to John Coltrane and The Police. Soon after, Anderson met Wisconsin native and pianist Ethan Iverson and formed a (then) temporary alliance: the threesome played for the first time in 1990, then went their separate ways for the better part of the decade.

Their paths crossed again for a one-time gig in Minneapolis in 2000. Thrilled by the instant chemistry, the group tracked a self-titled disc for the Spanish independent label Fresh Sound; their set would soon be hailed by the New York Times as one of 2001’s best releases of the year.
A deal with Columbia Records followed, and amid relentless touring the band crafted material for 2003’s These Are the Vistas. Produced by Tchad Blake (Peter Gabriel, Tom Waits) the album contained riveting originals alongside sharp readings of Nirvana, Aphex Twin, and Blondie. Two more albums followed in rapid succession: Give in 2004, and Suspicious Activity? in 2005. The trio continued to tour worldwide, and further cemented their reputation as passionate and powerful musicians.

The Bad Plus joined forces with Heads Up International for the May 2007 release of Prog. Co-helmed by veteran UK producer Tony Platt (Bob Marley, AC/DC), the album showcases six singularly original compositions alongside fresh takes on Tears For Fears, Burt Bacharach, David Bowie, and Rush. In the studio as well as onstage, The Bad Plus proudly foregoes convention in favor of curiosity and craftsmanship— recognizing and respecting the rules while simultaneously ripping them to shreds.