The Bad Plus

{{Infobox musical artist | Name = The Bad Plus | Img = [[Image:The Bad Plus (Ethan Iverson, Reid Anderson, David King).jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Bad Plus (Ethan Iverson, Reid Anderson, David King) | Img_capt = | Background = group_or_band | Origin = United States | Genre = Jazz | Years_active = 2000–present | Label = HUI/Universal/Do the Math Records | URL = [1] | Current_members = Ethan Iverson
Reid Anderson
David King }}

The Bad Plus are a jazz trio from the United States, consisting of pianist Ethan Iverson, bassist Reid Anderson, and drummer Dave King.

History

Iverson, Anderson and King first played together in 1989, establishing The Bad Plus in 2000. The band recorded their first album, a self-titled effort released on Fresh Sound, after playing only three gigs together. A live performance at the Village Vanguard was heard by Columbia Records representative Yves Beauvais, and the band was signed to Columbia in 2002. Their major label debut album, These Are the Vistas (2003), was followed by Give in 2004 and Suspicious Activity? in 2005. After parting ways with Columbia, the group signed to Heads Up Records (a division of Telarc), and released the album Prog on May 8, 2007. In early Spring of 2008 they finished recording their next studio album, which they expect to be released in Fall of 2008. It is expected to feature a classical feel on some tracks on behalf of the pianist Ethan Iverson, who is classically trained.

Musical style

The trio's music combines elements of modern Avant-garde jazz with rock and pop influences. However, their music defies any genre labeling. The band have recorded versions of songs by Nirvana, Aphex Twin, Blondie, Ornette Coleman, Pixies, Rush, Tears for Fears, Neil Young, David Bowie, Interpol, and Black Sabbath. Blunt Object: Live in Tokyo includes a cover of Queen's "We Are the Champions" along with the jazz standard "My Funny Valentine". Suspicious Activity? contains a cover of the theme from "Chariots of Fire", while a version of "Karma Police" by Radiohead appeared on the 2006 album Exit Music: Songs with Radio Heads.

Discography

• The Bad Plus (2001) - also known as Motel.
• authorized bootleg: new york 12/16/01 (2002)
• These Are the Vistas (2003)
• Give (2004)
• Blunt Object: Live in Tokyo (2005)
• Suspicious Activity? (2005)
• Prog (2007)

Trivia

• Anderson and King are originally from Minnesota, and Iverson is from neighboring Wisconsin.
• King is also part of the Minnesota-based groups Love-Cars, Halloween, Alaska, and Happy Apple.
• An alternate take of the band's jazz interpretation of Aphex Twin's "Flim" appears in the title sequence of German TV comedy series Stromberg.

External links

• The Bad Plus website
• The Bad Plus blog, "Do The Math"
• The Bad Plus' essay discussing their covers
• Glide Magazine, The Bad Plus: Give and Take
• Live in performance — photos by Bruce C Moore
• Audio interview with Reid Anderson recorded January 2007
• Obnoxious Listeners artist profile of The Bad Plus