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The Bad Plus: Flim

By Scott Lichtman
June 21, 2024
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The 2001 first album from

The Bad Plus

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.2000

" data-original-title="" title="">The Bad Plus was a shot across the bow for redefining the piano trio genre. Covering bands from ABBA to Nirvana and offering original compositions that swung, whispered and pounded, pianist

Ethan Iverson

piano
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Ethan Iverson, upright bassist

Reid Anderson

bass
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Reid Anderson and drummer

David King

guitar
b.1965

" data-original-title="" title="">David King drew new audiences to jazz. The second album, These are the Vistas (Columbia Records, 2003), featured a cover of

Aphex Twin

" data-original-title="" title="">Aphex Twin's "Flim." Compared to the Bad Plus's more avant-garde/muscular pieces, this cover comes across like a shiny gift wrapped for the holidays. It is based on a simple, child-like melody and variations led on the piano with bass support. The real nugget in the performance is a mesmorizing drum solo by King, who improvises his way through every pattern, paradiddle, polymeter and pause that one could imagine. It's a catchy piece and—especially for drummers—a jaw-dropper.

Contact Scott Lichtman on All About Jazz.
Jazz/fusion keyboardist & autograph collector in Stamford CT.

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