Vancouver International Jazz Festival presents quartet The Bad Plus on June 27

Avant-garde influenced concert is part of Coastal Jazz and Blues Society’s Marquee Series

SPONSORED POST BY Coastal Jazz and Blues Society

The Bad Plus. Photo by Cory Dewald

American jazz quartet The Bad Plus is playing a concert on June 27 at 7:30 pm at the Vancouver Playhouse, hosted by Coastal Jazz & Blues Society as part of the Vancouver International Jazz Festival.

Now in their 21st year, The Bad Plus’s founding members bassist Reid Anderson and drummer Dave King continue to push boundaries, embarking on a piano-less incarnation of the band that features the creative prowess of guitarist Ben Monder and tenor saxophone player Chris Speed.

The Bad Plus are a versatile jazz act with a clear vision and a refusal to conform to convention. For the past two decades they have played with spirit and adventure to critical acclaim, and have established a legion of fans worldwide with their unique sound and flair for live performance.

Their 15th album, released in fall 2022, doubles as a self-titled debut for their sonically adventurous new dynamic—it takes the enduring chemistry of The Bad Plus and supercharges it with fresh excitement. It’s also an opportunity for King and Anderson to drive their cutting-edge originals through while bringing arrangements of Radiohead, Aphex Twin, Nirvana, and Stravinsky along for the ride.

Formerly a trio, The Bad Plus featured founding member Ethan Iverson as pianist from 2000 to 2017, until he parted ways with the group. Pianist Orrin Evans took over as third member until his departure in early 2021, at which point Anderson and King decided to expand the ensemble to a quartet. The band’s recent evolution has instigated a new wave of excitement and anticipation that is re-energizing their sound and inspiration.

This year’s festival will offer a balance of free and ticketed performances, kicking off with the free Downtown Jazz concert series outside the Vancouver Art Gallery and šxwƛ̓ ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square; and culminating on Canada Day weekend at Granville Island venues, including Performance Works, Ocean Artworks, and the Revue Stage. 

More information and tickets to see The Bad Plus are available via Coastal Jazz & Blues Society.

Post sponsored by Coastal Jazz & Blues Society.