The Bad Plus have earned a reputation as iconoclasts. After all, this trio has presented fearless demolitions of pop classics such as "Chariots of Fire" as well as reverential performances of numbers such as "New Year's Day". Along the way, they have explored such ambitious projects as Stravinsky’s "Rite of Spring" and even invited Joshua Redman onboard for their live performances and recording of last year.
They have performed twice in Omaha to enthusiastic audiences. The band visited Omaha in 2013 with a concert that included a performance of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring.
For this new effort, the band is again a trio: Reid Anderson on bass, Ethan Iverson on piano, and David King on drums.
And It's Hard is all covers. However, as most Bad Plus fans know, a Bad Plus cover is not necessary delivered in a recognizable form. Melody, pulse, and key are all subject to change.
While "Time After Time" emerges in a recognizable state(and it is true to the original path taken by Cyndi Lauper ) other songs are totally transformed. For some, the treatment of Johnny Cash's "I Walk The Line" might border on heresy. But this is the Bad Plus! Surprisingly, the trio covers the Barry Manilow megahit "Mandy" though not without giving it accelerating tempos that give way to a blistering crescendo. And the band visits Peter Gabriel's "Games Without Fears" but on this number supplies an update to this classic 80's gem.
The tunes are:
1.Maps
2.Games without Frontiers
3.Time After Time
4.I Walk the Line
5.Alfombra Magica
6.The Beautiful Ones
7.Don't Dream It's Over
8. Staring at the Sun
9.Mandy
10.The Robots
11.Broken Shadows
Bad Plus fans will not be disappointed!
Listen to an interview with Reid Anderson of the Bad Plus
Visit their website at: http://www.thebadplus.com/
