The Bad Plus Farewell Tour

The Bad Plus are playing the Bluebird Theater on Tuesday, December 1, as part of their Farewell Tour. It's a heavy name for a tour, and it's one of the last chances to see them in Denver.

If you've followed them for a while, you know the band has spent two decades as a democratic jazz unit, earning critical acclaim and a global following along the way. But the group you'll see on stage now isn't the one that started. Founding members Reid Anderson on bass and Dave King on drums have launched a new, piano-less version of the band, bringing in guitarist Ben Monder and tenor saxophonist Chris Speed to fill the space. It's a different sound from their earlier records, and they describe it as a re-energizing of their music.

This new quartet is also putting out a new record: their 15th studio recording and their first self-titled album, coming through Edition Records. It's a dynamic shift for a band that's spent twenty-one years bridging genres and techniques, and they describe themselves as the ultimate originals. Between the new material and the weight of the farewell tour, there's a lot of ground to cover in one night.

The show is at the Bluebird Theater, 3317 E Colfax Ave, on Tuesday, December 1, starting at 8 PM.