Walker Commission and World Premiere: The Bad Plus with Bill Frisell '85–'95
Photo: Josh Goleman
“The four musicians’ independent energies, each attacking the song from his own quarter, kept the melody suspended and ongoing.” –The New York Times
Electrifying jazz trio the Bad Plus (Dave King, drums; Ethan Iverson, piano; and Reid Anderson, bass) reconstructs compositions from the now-classic first 10 years of recordings by Bill Frisell. As high school students in the 1980s and ’90s, King and Anderson heard the legendary jazz guitarist perform at the Walker and now cherish the chance to reimagine–with Frisell onstage as guest artist–beloved tunes played with their own high-energy sensibility. Look for an evening of inspired collaboration where two generations and the styles of these irreverent musical pioneers come together in the ever-morphing continuum of American jazz. They perform on Friday, September 29, in the William and Nadine McGuire Theater, at 7 pm and 9:30 pm.
About Bill Frisell
Bill Frisell is an American guitarist, composer and singer who has been a leading guitarist in jazz since the late 1980’s. Born in Maryland, growing up in Denver, he played the clarinet in his youth before studying music at Berklee College of Music in Boston. His interest in guitar grew through exposure to pop and soul as he played in a high school band covering hits of James Brown and other similar artists. In the early ’80s, Frisell began to record albums with labels like ECM Records and Nonesuch, which sparked fire. Over the years, Frisell has contributed to works in collaboration with several musicians and composers such as John Zorn and Elvis Costello. His compositions have been described by publications such as The New York Times and Wire as playful and improvisational, but also tender with a deep structure rather than a shallow surface. His pure, unique sound has also been compared to the likes of Miles Davis and Wes Montgomery. In 2005, his album Unspeakable (2004) won a Grammy award for Best Contemporary Jazz recording. Now based in Seattle with his family, he continues to perform, feature and compose music for soundtracks and albums.
About The Bad Plus
Based in New York City and Minneapolis, jazz trio The Bad Plus is praised for their ability to merge elements and techniques of rock, pop and jazz while exploring ways in which they can connect their distinct, avant-garde sounds. Their last four albums focused on original compositions, while their most recent album, It’s Hard, is a return of the band’s traditional style – the deconstruction of songs from pop, rock and R&B genres. In 2014, American jazz magazine DOWN BEAT rated The Bad Plus as second in the Best Jazz Group category in the 62nd Annual Critics Poll. Their album The Rite of Spring (2014) received five stars and also charted in the Top 10 Record of the Year in the same poll. Critics from publications such as Billboard and Entertainment Weekly describe The Bad Plus as a dynamic and consistently evolving group, with the ability to combine post-60’s jazz and indie rock better than most.
What: The Bad Plus with Bill Frisell
Where: William and Nadine McGuire Theater
When: September 29, 7pm and 9:30pm
TIckets: Main Floor $45 ($36 Walker Members)
Balcony $30 ($24)
Media Resources:
The Bad Plus Website
Bill Frisell Website
New York Times Review of 2013 show
2012 Live Performance