“In this current configuration, they’ve reinvented themselves as a quartet but with that same genre-blending sound which we know and love…The group is now sans piano, which is certainly indicative of the risks they’re willing to take…They’re giving us so much to work with in the way of sound. You really can’t put them in a box…The saxophone and guitars really bring out something different in these compositions.” – NPR ALL SONGS CONSIDERED

The Bad Plus are the ultimate originals. A democratic unit with a clear vision and a refusal to conform to convention. For the past two decades they have played with spirit and adventure, made their own rules and done 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 their unique sound and flair for live performance.

Now in their 27TH year, The Bad Plus continue to push boundaries as founding members Reid Anderson (bass) and Dave King (drums) embark on a new piano-less incarnation of the band with Ben Monder (guitar) and Chris Speed (tenor saxophone) – instigating a new wave of excitement and anticipation within the band that is re-energizing their sound and inspiration. The Bad Plus have constantly searched to bridge genres and techniques while exploring the infinite possibilities of exceptional musicians working in perfect sync.

The Bad Plus released their 16th studio recording, Complex Emotions, via Mack Avenue in 2024. The title comes from a phrase that Anderson and King have used since the early days of the band – a mission statement to describe the wide range of territory they’ve always explored. Just as calling its predecessor The Bad Plus made a statement about continuity in the midst of change, finally branding an album with this long-held mantra declares that the reconfigured group has discovered ways to delve deeper and venture further.

Somewhat paradoxically, 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. Credit that to all four members’ instinctual attraction to song form, the compelling immediacy of their collective improvisations, and, yes, their willingness to drill down into the full gamut of emotional complexity. That the band can veer into so much unexplored terrain yet still emerge sounding like The Bad Plus on Complex Emotions is a testament to their finely crafted identity and insistence on constantly evolving.

Since their debut in 2000, The Bad Plus have pushed the boundaries of what jazz music could and should be. From their earliest days, their indelible compositions coexisted with an unconventional array of covers from outside of the strictly-policed jazz bubble: everything from Ornette Coleman to Black Sabbath to Aphex Twin, Cole Porter to the Pixies to Nirvana. Their eclecticism was often misinterpreted as snark, when in actuality it was a means to reach for expression unachievable through other avenues – something very much in keeping with the dauntlessness of the true jazz tradition. Their now-legendary 2003 LP These Are Vistas was named one of the 50 Most Important Recordings of the Decade by NPR’s All Songs Considered, and now on their 18th album, the band is still making music that is wild and unexpected, with a refusal to conform to convention.

2026 is the final year of The Bad Plus - and these shows will be their last in Richmond.

With only 107 seats, shows at Révéler are intimate and immersive. A romantic venue with exquisite sound and dreamy vibes, Révéler offers a unique selection of cocktails, wines, beers, bubbles, and non-alcoholic beverages. Our kitchen delivers small plates crafted with care.