The Bad Plus in Portland

The Bad Plus is an American jazz group formed in Minneapolis in 2000 by bassist Reid Anderson, pianist Ethan Iverson and drummer David King. The band became known through albums including These Are the Vistas and Give, combining original instrumental compositions with interpretations of Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Aphex Twin’s “Flim” and Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man.” In 2000, the founding trio played its first gigs at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis and recorded its debut soon afterward. Saxophonist Joshua Redman later joined the group for the album The Bad Plus Joshua Redman and concerts based on that collaboration. A 2017 New Year’s engagement at New York’s Village Vanguard marked Ethan Iverson’s departure, after which Orrin Evans took the piano chair for Never Stop II. The later piano-free quartet performs original instrumental music through Reid Anderson’s bass, David King’s drums, Chris Speed’s reeds and Ben Monder’s guitar.