The Bad Plus (late show)

About

[Looking for the 8:30 PM late show, go here ] Saturday, December 5, 8:30pm The Triple Door 216 Union St $30-40 Co-presented with The Triple Door BY NADYA BARGHOUTY Since forming in 2000, The Bad Plus (TBP) has been a formidable ensemble for 26 years, with 15 albums to their name and tours around the world. But despite the success and utmost love for their craft, founding members Reid Anderson and Dave King announced in early 2026 that this 27 th chapter would be TBP’s final. The Bad Plus is going out with a bang: a farewell world tour that began in September in Germany and will end right before the new year with five nights in their hometown of Minneapolis. Nestled amongst the 50+ shows are two all-ages showtimes at The Triple Door in Downtown Seattle. The Bad Plus has had several iterations. They began as a genre-defining trio utilizing piano, bass, and drums. However, 20 years into their debut, The Bad Plus shifted. After the departure of Orrin Evans, The Bad Plus’ last piano player, Anderson and King decided to reinvent TBP’s sound “We purposely walked away from getting another pianist,” King remarked in a press release. “Instead, we went this other way. We found a new sound and a more expansive range.” The band’s current lineup is Reid Anderson (bass), Dave King (drums), Chris Speed (saxophone), and Ben Monder (guitar). The saxophone and guitar do not replace the piano; they create something entirely new. “We feel like we’ve pulled off a magic trick,” shared King, “changing the lineup from a trio to a quartet with guitar and saxophone that still sounds coherent as The Bad Plus. Having two main composers was our greatest card to play. Our language remains, and that’s the magic.” Avant-garde jazz, psychedelic rock, and even pop—The Bad Plus is difficult to pin down. They have explored various themes and genres across their extensive discography. Their last record on Mack Avenue Records, Complex Emotions , highlights each member and instrument through original compositions that bounce between progressive rock and groove-filled melodies. The album ebbs and flows between genres in an exciting way, while maintaining a deep throughline in its composition. For instance, “Deep Water Sharks” begins with a distinct rock bassline and explosive drum beat, however, Speed’s saxophone then transforms the track into a polyphony of jazz textures. The Bad Plus has dedicated decades to creating and performing music. It is rare to find projects with such longevity and dedication. In their farewell message, Anderson and King write, “It has been a privilege to share our music with the world, and we leave behind a body of work that we could not be more proud of. This band changed our lives. Thank you all for being a part of that.” The Seattle scene has not one, but two opportunities to see The Bad Plus for the final time. What a gift to be part of such a loving send off. Photo by Evelyn Freja