#5141, From the Soundcheck Podcast: The Bad Plus
On this episode of New Sounds, take a trip down memory lane as we prepare to bid farewell to one of the most influential avant-garde jazz collectives out there: The Bad Plus.
Fusing elements of rock, pop, and classical music with jazz, The Bad Plus managed to surprise their listeners time and time again over the years. Always putting groove first, they’ve become known for their unique renditions of well-known pieces, from Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” to Blondie’s “Heart of Glass”.
At first a seemingly standard jazz trio, consisting of pianist Ethan Iverson, bassist Reid Anderson, and drummer David King, The Bad Plus shined as a group that pushed the boundaries of the ways they were taught to play their instruments. Eventually, as they evolved into a quartet after Iverson’s departure, first welcoming pianist Orrin Evans for a few years and then, guitarist Ben Monder and saxophonist Chris Speed to reach their final form, The Bad Plus embraced electronic sounds as well, further expanding their compositional palette.
Merely months after their last visit to our Manhattan studios to play a few songs from their album Complex Emotions for our Soundcheck podcast, The Bad Plus announced their farewell tour with a generous number of dates across the US, the UK, and Europe. Their final performance in New York will be at Sony Hall on Friday night, June 19th. - Sırma Munyar
Program #5141, From the Soundcheck Podcast: The Bad Plus (First aired 5/14/2026)
ARTIST: The Bad Plus
WORK: 1972 Bronze Medalist [5:35]
RECORDING: New Sounds Live, May 2009
SOURCE: This performance is not commercially available.
INFO: The work appears on the album titled The Bad Plus: https://www.discogs.com/release/2022855-The-Bad-Plus-The-Bad-Plus
ARTIST: The Bad Plus
WORK: Deep Water Sharks [0:48]
RECORDING: Complex Emotions
SOURCE: Mack Avenue Records II
INFO: https://thebadplus.bandcamp.com/album/complex-emotions
ARTIST: The Bad Plus
WORK: Casa Ben [8:02]
RECORDING: Live for the Soundcheck Podcast, July 2025
SOURCE: This performance is not commercially available.
INFO: The work appears on the album titled The Bad Plus: https://www.discogs.com/release/2022855-The-Bad-Plus-The-Bad-Plus
ARTIST: The Bad Plus
WORK: French Horns [3:56]
RECORDING: Live for the Soundcheck Podcast, July 2025
SOURCE: This performance is not commercially available.
INFO: The work appears on the album titled The Bad Plus: https://www.discogs.com/release/2022855-The-Bad-Plus-The-Bad-Plus
ARTIST: The Bad Plus
WORK: Deep Water Sharks [0:54]
RECORDING: Complex Emotions
SOURCE: Mack Avenue Records II
INFO: https://thebadplus.bandcamp.com/album/complex-emotions
ARTIST: The Bad Plus
WORK: Li Po [0:34]
RECORDING: Complex Emotions
SOURCE: Mack Avenue Records II
INFO: https://thebadplus.bandcamp.com/album/complex-emotions
ARTIST: The Bad Plus
WORK: Fém (Etude No. 8) [0:20]
RECORDING: For All I Care
SOURCE: Do The Math Records
INFO: https://www.discogs.com/master/58235-The-Bad-Plus-Joined-By-Wendy-Lewis-For-All-I-Care
ARTIST: The Bad Plus
WORK: Carrier [5:39]
RECORDING: Live for the Soundcheck Podcast, July 2025
SOURCE: This performance is not commercially available.
INFO: The work appears on the album titled The Bad Plus: https://www.discogs.com/release/2022855-The-Bad-Plus-The-Bad-Plus
ARTIST: The Bad Plus
WORK: Heart of Glass [2:06]
RECORDING: These Are The Vistas
SOURCE: Sony Music Entertainment / Columbia
INFO: https://www.discogs.com/master/214301-The-Bad-Plus-These-Are-The-Vistas
ARTIST: The Bad Plus
WORK: 1979 Semi-Finalist [1:04]
RECORDING: Give
SOURCE: Sony Music Entertainment / Columbia
INFO: https://www.discogs.com/master/137331-The-Bad-Plus-Give
