The Bad Plus

Anticipation meets melancholy. Fans of the American cult band The Bad Plus will be eagerly awaiting the quartet’s performance while simultaneously wiping away a tear. That’s because the group—led by bassist Reid Anderson and drummer Dave King—has just announced that it will disband after more than a quarter-century and following its upcoming farewell tour. You should quit while you’re ahead. So: Get your tickets—this is your last chance to see The Bad Plus on stage.

In 2000, The Bad Plus caused a sensation right from the start—as a powerhouse piano trio that became famous, among other things, for its tongue-in-cheek covers of rock, pop, and film music classics. After founding member Ethan Iverson left, Orrin Evans joined the band, bringing a more serious, bluesier tone with him as the pianist. The Bad Plus reinvented themselves as a quartet. Tenor saxophonist/clarinetist Chris Speed and guitarist Ben Monder joined Reid Anderson and Dave King. The musical direction: rockier, more robust, and more varied. After a temporary all-star lineup featuring saxophonist Chris Potter and pianist Craig Taborn, The Bad Plus are now bidding farewell as a quartet with Reid Anderson, Dave King, Chris Speed, and guitarist Gregg Belisle-Chi. Sigh.

Lineup:

Reid Anderson (b)

Dave King (dr)

Gregg Belisle-Chi (guitar)

Chris Speed (sax)