THE BAD PLUS … Just appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brian
Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 8:30pm

Post-modern jazz trio put their garde up in avant-garde pop-rock

In a daring Handlebar booking, The Bad Plus marks a major departure from our standard rock, pop, world-beat or even jazz fare. Are the Bad Plus a pop- and rock-influenced jazz trio? Or are they a power trio who like to play jazz? But in the brave new world of postmodern jazz, identity crises are encouraged. Reid Anderson (bass), David King (drums) and pianist Ethan Iverson first performed as the Bad Plus in 1990. They spent the decade embracing separate influences and developing a musical language. In 2001, the trio released The Bad Plus, establishing themselves as unafraid to stray from the confines of jazz. The debut garnered best-of honors from the New York Times and Chicago Reader, among others. Next came their major-label debut on Columbia Records, with the 2003 release of These Are the Vistas, with re-imaginations of Blondie, Aphex Twin and the like. Cutting-edge, yes, and it’s what we here at The Handlebar love to do.
Links: The Bad Plus, Hear The Bad Plus on myspace

$16 (includes sales tax and music-licensing fees) ($2 extra at door under age 21)