The Bad Plus perform at the Jazz Station - Eugene
Two Shows 6:30p and 9:00p
Both Shows Sold Out
- Reid Anderson bass
- David King drums
- Chris Speed tenor saxophone
- Ben Monder guitar
As part of their fall 2023 international tour, The Bad Plus are performing at The Jazz Station on Broadway in downtown Eugene. A breakout worldwide phenomenon when they appeared in the early 2000’s, the group has been together for over 20 years and played every major jazz venue and festival in the world multiple times. The Bad Plus has won critical acclaim and a legion of fans worldwide with their unique sound and flair for live performance. They seek musical inspiration from all musical genres, having recorded versions of songs by Nirvana, Blondie, Pink Floyd, Ornette Coleman, The Pixies, Rush, Tears For Fears, Neil Young, David Bowie, Yes, Interpol, Johnny Cash, The Bee Gees, Burt Bacharach, Cyndi Lauper and Black Sabbath, to name a few. As founding member drummer Dave King puts it, “If it comes down to it and you had to put us in a category, we are most certainly part of the jazz canon. The new band—all of us come from an improvisational background. We have all played different types of jazz. But the influences—they push out the corners of what people think of as jazz.” These influences form the basis for King and bassist Reid Anderson’s original compositions, which are the backbone of TBP’s repertoire. After working as a trio for nearly 20 years, the Bad Plus now is a quartet with saxophonist Chris Speed and guitarist Ben Monder joining the group in 2021. Compared with the group’s original piano trio instrumentation, the addition of saxophone and electric guitar allows TBP to explore new degrees of melodic lyricism, and a broader sonic palette. These new members have a long history with the original members and are prolific performers in their own right. Monder played with Paul Motion and is a current member of the Maria Schneider Orchestra, and even contributed guitar charts to David Bowie’s final album. Speed is a longtime NYC resident with a massive list of eclectic ensembles with which he performs from folk to avant garde to jazz. In contrast to the large venues where the Bad Plus will be performing in the region (Portland and Seattle over 800 seats, Bend 450 seats), The Jazz Station, with 70 seats, offers an intimate experience unlike any other on their current tour.
