Activate Infinity is the second album from New York
based The Bad Plus since the remarkable pianist Orrin Evans joined the
trio back in 2018. With their sights set on a new trajectory, combined
with an abundance of spirit and creativity, the trio have produced one
of their finest and most original albums to date. This is group music
played with vibrant imagination and vigour. It’s real, deeply honest and
personal. Their joy in music making together is clear and their vision
is committed and democratic. With a new home on the British label,
Edition Records, the trio are working with a renewed intent that will
see them grow to new heights and continue to flourish. Sit back, listen and enjoy the ride!
About Activate Infinity
The Bad Plus are the ultimate
originals. A democratic unit with a clear vision and a refusal to
conform to convention. For the past 18 years they have played with
spirit and adventure, made their own rules and done so with a bold sense
of creativity and intent and developed a remarkable body of original
material. In 2018 they announced a change of line-up that shook the
jazz world, bringing the astonishing
and remarkable pianist Orrin Evans into the group. The result
instigated a new wave of excitement and anticipation within the band
that re-energising their sound and inspiration. This is The Bad Plus now and the music is the real deal – it’s honest, personal and deeply imaginative.
Activate Infinity sees
the journey evolve further with the start of their relationship with
British label Edition Records, who together are working with foresight
and passion, to allow the band to flourish and grow their own unique
perspective, sense of creativity and character without restrictions or
inhibitions.
It goes without saying that today’s society is profoundly unbalanced and uncomfortably divided. For The Bad Plus, however, Activity Infinity
represents a place of sanity amidst the chaos: the freedom to express
and say something personal and with meaning without being restricted or
constrained by the powers that be. In this band the three voices act as
one, sharing a common purpose and message. This is The Bad Plus in
their most creative and expressive form.
With writing credits shared between all members, the music on Activate Infinity
is protean yet focussed, individually written but collectively
produced. These are songs written with the freedom to explore and the
titles represent the deep levels of imagination the band has become
known for. Reid Anderson’s Avail is a vehicle for exuberance; Orrin’s quirky and joyous The Red Door explores the space behind the red door not the door itself; Dave King’s Thrift Store Jewelry is inspired by reclaimed treasure. Each has a message that is deeply personal, but universal.
This is The Bad Plus now: a band entering a
new era, a period of intense creativity, renewed energy and excitement.
And they are loving the ride. As the title suggests, the trio show no
sign of slowing down. The pursuit of creativity is on and they are
searching for new trajectories. With an abundance of adventure and
spirit, their joy of making music together is clear and paramount – it’s
their driving force and their ultimate purpose. The idea of a spirited
and endless journey will inspire the band and their fans to activate
infinity in countless rich and creative ways. So sit back, listen and
enjoy the ride!
“Along
with new songs, The Bad Plus reshapes a few fan favorites, like “Thrift
Store Jewelry” and “Love Is the Answer” — as if to reinforce the idea
of continuity, from then to now and beyond” – Nate Chinen, WBGO
Tour Dates
SOUTH AMERICA
October 14 – Cafe Teatro Centenario – La Serena, Chile
October 15 – Thelonious Jazz Club – Recoleta, Chile
October 16 – Teatro Niobio – Concepcion, Chile
October 17 – Teatro Municipal de Viño del Mar – Viño del Mar, Chile
NORTH AMERICA
October 20 – Baldwin Auditorium – Durham, NC
October 22 – South Jazz Kitchen – Philadelphia, PA
October 23 – South Jazz Kitchen – Philadelphia, PA
October 24 – The Hangar Theatre – Ithaca, NY
October 25 – Scullers Jazz Club – Boston, MA*
October 26 – Scullers Jazz Club – Boston, MA*
October 27 – The Press Room – Portsmouth, NH
October 28 – One Longfellow Square – Portland, ME
October 29 – ArtsRiot – Burlington, VT
October 30 – Iron Horse Music Hall – Northampton, MA
November 1 – City Winery – Washington, DC*
November 3 – Brooklyn Bowl – Kings County, NY*
November 9 – Exit Zero Jazz Festival – Cape May, NJ
November 10 – Royce Hall UCLA – Los Angeles, CA*
December 6 – Old Town School of Folk Music – Chicago, IL
December 7 – Listening Room – Grand Rapids, MI
December 8 – The Crosstown Theater – Memphis, TN
December 25 – The Dakota – Minneapolis, MN
December 26 – The Dakota – Minneapolis, MN
December 27 – The Dakota – Minneapolis, MN
December 28 – The Dakota – Minneapolis, MN
EUROPE
November 13 – The Jazz Cafe – London, UK
November 14 – Babylon Bomonti – Istanbul, TR
November 16 – Pardon To Tu – Warsaw, PL
November 17 – Contemporary Art Centre Vilnius (CAC) – Vilnius, LT
November 18 – Zig Zag Jazz Club – Berlin, DE
November 19 – Unterfahrt Jazz Club – Munich, DE
November 20 – TivoliVredenburg – Utrecht, NL
November 21 – Nasjonal Jazzscene, Victoria – Oslo, NO
November 22 – Jazz Club Etoile (ex Lionel Hampton) – Paris, FR
November 23 – Unerhört Festival Jazzclub Uster – Uster, CH
November 26 – Clamores Jazzclub – Madrid, ES
November 27 – STAGE CLUB – Hamburg, DE
November 28 – Kulturlabor Stromboli – Hall, AT
November 30 – Torrione San Giovanni – Jazz Club Ferrara – Ferrara, IT
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