Article Contributed by Gratefulweb
Published on December 3, 2025
The Bad Plus has always thrived at the intersection of tradition and reinvention, and for Reid Anderson, Dave King, Chris Potter, and Craig Taborn, the music of Keith Jarrett’s American Quartet is more than a touchstone—it is part of their musical DNA. Jarrett’s legendary ensemble with Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden, and Paul Motian forged a groundbreaking blend of swing, open improvisation, and folk-inflected melodicism that shaped not only these four artists, but an entire generation of modern jazz explorers.
With this special project—The Bad Plus with Chris Potter and Craig Taborn—these acclaimed musicians revisit that formative repertoire with both deep reverence and fearless imagination. Anderson and King, whose work with The Bad Plus helped redefine contemporary jazz, meet the authoritative voice of Potter’s tenor saxophone and the searching brilliance of Taborn’s piano. The result is an ensemble capable of extraordinary nuance—melodic, rhythmic, and emotional.
Rather than presenting a traditional tribute, the quartet channels the raw, exploratory spirit that Jarrett’s American Quartet embodied. Their performances highlight the same restless curiosity, spacious interaction, and spiritual intensity that made the original ensemble so influential. By approaching this repertoire from within—rather than from afar—they breathe new life into music that still feels vital, urgent, and profoundly resonant.
This project celebrates the legacy of Jarrett, Redman, Haden, and Motian while reaffirming the American Quartet’s lasting relevance in today’s jazz landscape. It is both homage and evolution: a continuation of a lineage built on fearless dialogue, expressive honesty, and improvisational daring.
THE BAD PLUS
CHRIS POTTER AND CRAIG TABORN
Boulder Theater
Friday, March 6, 2026
Doors: 7:00 pm | Show: 8:00 pm
Tickets on sale Friday, December 5 at 10:00 am MT
Purchase Tickets
General Admission Seated
All Ages (under 16 with an adult)
