The Bad Plus

About

Returning to the Miner stage for this date as part of their farewell tour, the groundbreaking, genre-smashing band featuring Reid Anderson , Dave King , Ben Monder , and Chris Speed says goodbye to the Bay Area with this performance. A uniquely audacious group that has crossed into the mainstream to draw jazz fans and rock aficionados alike, they rose to fame over two decades ago by transforming pop and rock anthems like Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man,” Blondie’s “Heart of Glass” and Queen’s “We Are the Champions” into epic improvisational journeys. Originally formed in 1989 as a trio with pianist Ethan Iverson, bassist Anderson, and drummer King, the band recorded a series of masterful recordings that balanced tongue-in-cheek irreverence with dauntingly accomplished musicianship. After Iverson’s departure in 2017 and a short stint by pianist Orrin Evans, The Bad Plus was joined by Speed, a visionary saxophonist whose accomplices have included Jim Black, Tim Berne, and Craig Taborn, and Monder, a guitarist of a singular virtuosity whose resume runs the gamut from Brother Jack McDuff to David Bowie’s final masterwork Blackstar . Over its evolution, The Bad Plus has developed a group concept and sound that makes for a thrilling ride without boundaries or preconceptions. They have had, in the words of DownBeat Magazine, “an inestimable impact on the modern jazz landscape.” Don’t miss this final chance to see them live!