The Bad Plus, the iconoclastic jazz group known for its genre-eschewing approach, will disband in 2026, closing a 26-year chapter of experimentation. Founding members Reid Anderson (bass) and Dave King (drums) announced the decision in a joint statement this week, calling it the result of “a great deal of soul searching.”
Related
While acknowledging the decision came with “heavy hearts,” the pair emphasized their pride in the group’s body of work — 16 studio albums — and the impact the band has had on them. “It has been a privilege to share our music with the world,” they added, thanking fans for coming along for the journey.
Formed in Minneapolis in 2000 with pianist Ethan Iverson, The Bad Plus quickly became a singular force in contemporary jazz. Their breakthrough album, These Are the Vistas (2003 via Columbia) blended avant-garde jazz with rock energy, featuring audacious covers of songs by Nirvana, Aphex Twin and Blondie alongside original compositions — helping the trio reach audiences beyond traditional jazz circles.
The band evolved through several phases over the years: Iverson departed in 2017, replaced by Orrin Evans in 2018. In 2021, Anderson and King reimagined the group as a piano-less quartet (!!!) with guitarist Ben Monder and saxophonist Chris Speed, releasing The Bad Plus (2022) and Complex Emotions (2024).
The Bad Plus have consistently ranked high on Billboard’s jazz charts over the years, with most albums debuting in the Top 10. Highlights include a No. 1 Traditional Jazz Albums peak for Made Possible (2012) and No. 2 spots for Give (2004) and Never Stop (2010). Their breakout These Are the Vistas (2003) hit No. 13 on Jazz Albums and No. 8 on Traditional Jazz, while later releases like It’s Hard (2016), Inevitable Western (2014) and Activate Infinity (2019) maintained strong Top 10 positions.
True to form, The Bad Plus will conclude with two distinct touring projects. The current quartet will perform North American dates, including a residency at Jazz St. Louis (Jan. 14–18), a headline show at The Blue Note in Columbia, MO (Jan. 21), and a set at the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (June 26), with more dates to follow.
Separately, Anderson and King will join pianist Craig Taborn and saxophonist Chris Potter for a tribute to Keith Jarrett’s American Quartet. That project launches March 3 in Lexington, KY, before heading to Europe and the UK starting March 21 at Italy’s Bergamo Jazz Festival.
