The Write Stuff - The Bad Plus, QEH, 12 Nov 2005
Reviewer - Steve Pretty

A set by The Bad Plus is like browsing in a particularly fascinating second-hand shop: as rewarding as finding a much-desired record in the bargain bin, as endlessly fascinating as browsing through a selection of ancient books, and as baffling as discovering a badly worn brown nylon jumper with a questionable odour at the back of the clothes rack.

OK, so I'm only re-working the idea behind rubber-faced drummer Dave King's tune 'Thrift Store Jewellery' - that you can find all manner of unusual things to fit your style in a thrift store - but somehow I think that the post-modern irony of this would be savoured by this most self-conscious of bands.

And The Bad Plus are nothing if not self-conscious. From the political message behind the technically impressive 'The Empire Strikes Backwards' to the re-workings of pop themes that catapulted them into the limelight in the first place, this trio of New York-based musicians are so self-aware that it is occasionally difficult to extract a clear sense of purpose in their music.

Refreshingly, the deconstructivist sledge hammer that they have previously wielded against themes by Abba and Nirvana was here employed on a mostly excellent set of originals by all three members of this 'power trio'. Bassist Reid Anderson's compositions seemed to suggest a hand more used to the finely nuanced taps of a jeweller's hammer than the thunderous hammer of Thor employed by his band mates, with an ambient, trance-like piece mid-way through providing a welcome respite to the largely bombastic set.

But with an audience as diverse and appreciative as the crowd at the QEH, bombastic is the name of the game, and this is a quality that this band have in spades (helped at least in part by Dave King's de-tuned rock-style kit). When, in their closing number, they launch into an extended, immaculately tight round of asymmetrical full-band stabs, you can practically taste the awe of the rock fans in the audience - not to mention the acrid shock of a few jazz purists nestled amongst them.

Shock and awe aside, though, shopping at The Bad Plus Thrift Store is a rewarding and mostly fulfilling experience. It's true that for every glimmering gem of an original there is a brown nylon jumper lurking at the back somewhere (in this case an interpretation of the irredeemably trite theme to Chariots of Fire), but The Bad Plus somehow manage to construct a coherent and quirky style out of this mix 'n match approach: an admirable, and often riveting experience. Steve Pretty

Have your say

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My dream lineup would be mingus/bud powell/dizzy gillespie/charlie parker/max roach. it doesn't get any better than that!
Doug, Lancashire

Dream band - Miles Davis Mike Brecker Jack DeJohnette Jaco Pastorius Pat metheny Keith Jarrett
Slim Shady, wherever

Tubby Hayes ~ Tenor Sax Tubby Hayes ~ Flute Tubby Hayes ~ Soprano Sax Tubby Hayes ~ Vibes Tubby Hayes ~ Piano Tubby Hayes ~ Bass Tubby Hayes ~ Drums Tubby Hayes ~ Congas Tubby Hayes ~ Refreshments.
Ronnie Griffin

Right - how about Jazz at the Philharmonic on Acid? On the shopping list would be: The John Coltrane Quartet plus John Tchicai, Marion Brown, Archie Shepp, Albert Ayler, Steve Lacy, Milford Graves, Henry Grimes, Reggie Workman, Andrew Cyrille, Derek Bailey, Evan Parker, Peter Brotzmann, John Gilmore, Marshall Allen, Paul Dunmall, Don Cherry, Bill Dixon, Ken Vandermark, Barry Guy, Sonny Sharrock, Wadada Leo Smith, Rashied Ali, Sunny Murray and various percussionists from West Africa and Latin America. Opening the show would be North Walian superstars Corky's Cats.
Bruce

Why not have a balance of styles like some of the festivals in Europe ? How about this for a balanced line-up? 1. Jazz & Classical: Music by James Reece Europe / James P. Johmson / Will Marion Cook for orchestra in the first half. Second half. Herbie Hancock playing Wayne Shorter's Piano Concerto. (I believe this either exists or is in the throes of composition.) 2. Jazz piano night; Kenny Barron trio. Jason Moran (solo, playing the music of Jelly Roll Morton.) Paul Bley trio with Haen & Motian. 3. Big band night: Paris Swing Orchestra playing Fletcher Henderson / Don Redman / Spike Hughes / Benny Carter / Chick Webb, etc. George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band. Mike Gibbs Orch featuring John Scofield. 4. Contemporary night. Wayne Shorter Qt with D. Perez. Dave Holland 5tet. 5. Avant Garde Night. William Parker's "Luc's Lantern " trio. Henry Threadgill's Very, Very Cicrus. 6. European Jazz night. Tomasz Stanko Qt. (playing Komeda's music.) Bobo Stenson trio UMO Jazz Orchestra + John Surman. 7. Singers. Dianne Reeves & Cassandra Wilson. 8. Funk night. MMW Fred Wesley Tania Maria 9. Legends of Blue Note: Kenny Burrell, McCoy Tyner, Fred "Hootin' & Tootin'" Jackson, and any others who are still alive. Pretty much perfect for all tastes.
Ian Thumwood

The Write Stuff - The Bad Plus, QEH, 12 Nov 2005Reviewer - Steve Pretty

Have your say

The Write Stuff - The Bad Plus, QEH, 12 Nov 2005
Reviewer - Steve Pretty