Photo by Ryan Dornfeld. More on Flickr
The tattoos on drummer David King’s arms were a direct giveaway – the Bad Plus wasn’t your run-of-the-mill jazz trio. The group brought their distinct formula of classical music with tinges of rock and pop influences to satisfy an eager crowd at Jazz at the Bistro. The group played two sets, mostly filled with original pieces, which varied from slow and methodical to straight-out spastic.
Originality and playfulness permeate the Bad Plus’ material – even reaching the song titles themselves. Pianist Ethan Iverson introduced the piece “Rhinoceros is my Profession” by sharing that the Bad Plus is against bull fighting, and the group followed with a composition titled “Bill Hickman at Home” (Hickman was a stunt driver, famous for the Bullitt chase scene). But, when putting the plodding cadence of the latter piece in context with its title, the theme really shined – and, the technical piano and bass interlude was a sure audience pleaser.
Another standout piece from the Bad Plus’ concert was their rendition of “Metal” by György Ligeti, which felt like a toned down math-rock riff transcribed to piano and upright bass. The technical aptitude of the trio was found in their most complicated compositions, and King’s diverse and jittery drumming styles kept Iverson and bassist Reed Anderson on their toes. From the resounding applause at the culmination of their set, there was no doubt that the Bad Plus delivered on all counts.
