Interview: The Bad Plus
Interview: The Bad Plus
If you despair that smooth jazz has crowded out other types, the Bad Plus are more than a ray of hope. They have a sound all their own, sometimes nearly traditional, but more often progressive, with an excitement that is all too often missing in modern jazz recordings.
In an E-mail interview, bassist Reid Anderson described the band's music as "instrumental, acoustic music that incorporates a wide range of influences, from jazz, to rock, classical, electronic, etc." He added, “We play with a lot of passion and with a dynamic range that covers the spectrum between very loud and very soft. We believe in clarity and a pop sensibility, but also fully embrace free improvisation and chaos."
As an acoustic group, their records are more immediate and realistic, without all the instruments smoothed out to the point of boredom. Their improvisation also adds excitement to the music. Anderson wrote, “The songs come to the band [in the studio] pretty much as they are, then they take on a life of their own as the band gets to live with them and everyone comes up with their own parts."
They are not afraid to do covers of rock songs, since gaining recognition for their versions of songs like Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and Blondie's "Heart of Glass." This might seem to be for novelty value, but as Anderson wrote, "The rock covers are completely serious. There is no irony intended. We play music that we like and we enjoy the process of deconstructing that music and trying to make it our own."
The Midwestern based group has been together since 1990. Last year their unusual approach paid off, as they broke out with a major label deal, "These Are the Vistas" on Sony, and gained increased critical and popular acceptance. Anderson: "We've been able to do what we do and be accepted for what it is. I think that when people hear our music they're not concerned with labels and categories."
The rest of the trio is David King on drums and Ethan Iverson on piano. Iverson does not use other keyboards. As Anderson wrote, "Ethan certainly does not feel limited by the piano in terms of expression and is not really interested in playing other keyboards."
Their latest CD "Give" (Sony 2004) reflects the band’s eclectic approach. There are lyrical passages, the "controlled chaos" of improvisation, and influences that range from Spanish to classical music. It also includes rock covers, like Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" in a version that radically reinterprets it.
The band's live shows reflect their recording work. Anderson: "We're improvisers, so all of our performances are different, although if you've heard the CDs you'll definitely recognize the music. We always play acoustic instruments and don't use any stage effects, unless you count the scale model of Mount Vesuvius that spews Cheetos. We get to play all kinds of venues: jazz clubs, rock clubs, theaters, outdoor stages. We really enjoy playing them all. If the sound is good and the audience is listening it's a great experience for us no matter where it is."
Anderson wrote of the band's future, “I see [our music] changing as part of a natural evolution. We're all constantly striving to grow as artists and bring new material and sensibilities to the band. I see us on a long trajectory and imagine that the evolution will continue."
--Dave Howell, 7/04
(This article first appeared in the FMSound music site.)
If you despair that smooth jazz has crowded out other types, the Bad Plus are more than a ray of hope. They have a sound all their own, sometimes nearly traditional, but more often progressive, with an excitement that is all too often missing in modern jazz recordings.
In an E-mail interview, bassist Reid Anderson described the band's music as "instrumental, acoustic music that incorporates a wide range of influences, from jazz, to rock, classical, electronic, etc." He added, “We play with a lot of passion and with a dynamic range that covers the spectrum between very loud and very soft. We believe in clarity and a pop sensibility, but also fully embrace free improvisation and chaos."
As an acoustic group, their records are more immediate and realistic, without all the instruments smoothed out to the point of boredom. Their improvisation also adds excitement to the music. Anderson wrote, “The songs come to the band [in the studio] pretty much as they are, then they take on a life of their own as the band gets to live with them and everyone comes up with their own parts."
They are not afraid to do covers of rock songs, since gaining recognition for their versions of songs like Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and Blondie's "Heart of Glass." This might seem to be for novelty value, but as Anderson wrote, "The rock covers are completely serious. There is no irony intended. We play music that we like and we enjoy the process of deconstructing that music and trying to make it our own."
The Midwestern based group has been together since 1990. Last year their unusual approach paid off, as they broke out with a major label deal, "These Are the Vistas" on Sony, and gained increased critical and popular acceptance. Anderson: "We've been able to do what we do and be accepted for what it is. I think that when people hear our music they're not concerned with labels and categories."
The rest of the trio is David King on drums and Ethan Iverson on piano. Iverson does not use other keyboards. As Anderson wrote, "Ethan certainly does not feel limited by the piano in terms of expression and is not really interested in playing other keyboards."
Their latest CD "Give" (Sony 2004) reflects the band’s eclectic approach. There are lyrical passages, the "controlled chaos" of improvisation, and influences that range from Spanish to classical music. It also includes rock covers, like Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" in a version that radically reinterprets it.
The band's live shows reflect their recording work. Anderson: "We're improvisers, so all of our performances are different, although if you've heard the CDs you'll definitely recognize the music. We always play acoustic instruments and don't use any stage effects, unless you count the scale model of Mount Vesuvius that spews Cheetos. We get to play all kinds of venues: jazz clubs, rock clubs, theaters, outdoor stages. We really enjoy playing them all. If the sound is good and the audience is listening it's a great experience for us no matter where it is."
Anderson wrote of the band's future, “I see [our music] changing as part of a natural evolution. We're all constantly striving to grow as artists and bring new material and sensibilities to the band. I see us on a long trajectory and imagine that the evolution will continue."
--Dave Howell, 7/04
(This article first appeared in the FMSound music site.)