The Bad Plus Farewell Tour

The members of the Bad Plus have proven to be the ultimate originals. A democratic unit with a clear vision and a refusal to conform to convention, they play with spirit and adventure, making music that is wild and unexpected. They continue to push the boundaries of what jazz music could and should be with their 2026 Farewell Tour, wrapping up 26 years of making their own rules, and doing so with a bold sense of creativity and intent. 

Avoiding easy categorization, the Bad Plus has won critical acclaim and a legion of fans worldwide with its unique sound and flair for live performance, exploring the infinite possibilities of exceptional musicians working in perfect sync. Their now-legendary 2003 LP, These Are the Vistas, was named one of the 50 Most Important Recordings of the Decade by NPR’s All Songs Considered.

With the release of its vibrant 2022 self-titled album, the Bad Plus reinvented itself in a way that no one could have predicted. After 21 years spent redefining the parameters of the piano-bass-drums trio, the ever- adventurous group metamorphosed into a boundary-defying quartet. Founding members Reid Anderson (bass) and Dave King (drums) enlisted guitarist Ben Monder and saxophonist Chris Speed to conjure a new incarnation that offers boundless possibilities.

The group’s 18th album, 2024’s Complex Emotions, strikes out in stunning new directions, often sounding radically different than anything the Bad Plus has done before, while at the same time maintaining the band’s vital and unmistakable identity.

Band Members
Reid Anderson—bass
Dave King—drums
Ben Monder—guitar
Chris Speed—tenor saxophone

“A sensational post-modern jazz act.” —JazzTrail

The views expressed by performers during this event are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Cleveland Museum of Art.