The Bad Plus
Never Stop
www.thebadplus.com
By George W. Harris

Whether it’s music or politics, sooner or later you just can’t rely on attitude and style, but there has to be some substance there as well. The Bad Plus has created a niche based on a slightly irreverent attitude towards mainstream jazz, and they’ve carried it well, with some very clever releases. Their covers of tunes like “Life On Mars” and “We Are The Champions” were quite inspired. Eventually, there’s got to be something behind the curtain, and I’m starting to get worried about TBP, as this disc, their latest, feels like the ideas are starting to dry up. There’s a Cecil Taylor styled endless intro without anything being introduced on “The Radio Tower Has A Beating Heart” while “Never Stop” feels like an out take from Saturday Night Fever. Other songs, like the go-go beat of “Beryle Loves To Dance” to “My Friend Metatron” sound like what the rock group Queen would sound like if they wanted to form a jazz trio; heavy on the drums. Jazz for Head Bangers?