On Friday, August 8 at 8:00pm, the Mahaiwe will present a double bill featuring artists who are shaping the contemporary jazz scene. The Bad Plus has been a major force in jazz for a decade, redefining the classic piano trio sound for the 21st century. The trio will be joined by Joshua Redman, a giant of modern jazz saxophone playing.
“Redman’s intense and fiery tenor sax meshes with The Bad Plus’s skewed takes on standards, modern rock anthems, and their own compositions,” said Mahaiwe Executive Director Beryl Jolly. “We are looking forward to an exciting evening of contemporary jazz.” ...
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On Friday, August 8 at 8:00pm, the Mahaiwe will present a double bill featuring artists who are shaping the contemporary jazz scene. The Bad Plus has been a major force in jazz for a decade, redefining the classic piano trio sound for the 21st century. The trio will be joined by Joshua Redman, a giant of modern jazz saxophone playing.
“Redman’s intense and fiery tenor sax meshes with The Bad Plus’s skewed takes on standards, modern rock anthems, and their own compositions,” said Mahaiwe Executive Director Beryl Jolly. “We are looking forward to an exciting evening of contemporary jazz.”
Reinventing the standard jazz trio with a defiantly convention-breaking approach to improvisational music, The Bad Plus has carved out a niche as one of the most unique voices in modern music. The trio, featuring pianist Ethan Iverson, drummer Dave King, and bassist Reid Anderson, first gained notice for their audacious, script-flipping interpretations of rock and pop songs. Tunes that have gotten the Bad Plus treatment include Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man,” Blondie’s “Heart of Glass,” Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” The Bee Gees’s “How Deep Is Your Love?” and even Stravinsky’s “Variation d’Apollon.” Yet, despite their reputation for brilliant covers, The Bad Plus’s compositional skills should not go unnoticed. The Minnesota-based band’s 2012 album, Made Possible, focused exclusively on new pieces contributed by all three musicians. Whatever the origins of the tunes they explore, The Bad Plus has developed a singular group concept and sound that makes for a thrilling ride. In the words of Rolling Stone, The Bad Plus is “about as badass as highbrow gets.”
Joshua Redman is one of the most acclaimed and charismatic jazz artists to have emerged in the 90s. With a big meaty tone and soulful style reminiscent of Sonny Rollins, the wildly talented and expressive saxophonist has become a standard-bearer for exciting contemporary jazz, while his accessibility and charisma have made him one of the more popular and recognizable jazz artists. Born in Berkeley, California and educated at Harvard (graduating summa cum laude), he is the son of legendary saxophonist Dewey Redman and dancer Renee Shedroff. Redman’s professional music career began with a 1st place prize at the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Saxophone Competition. A record deal with Warner Brothers soon followed, and Redman suddenly became the new face of jazz (along with peers like Christian McBride, Roy Hargrove, and others). Initially playing with established jazz greats like Pat Metheny, Joe Lovano, and Charlie Haden, Redman soon branched out to become a formidable bandleader in his own right. He’s now released fifteen recordings, two of which have been nominated for a Grammy. While his records have explored post-bop, funk, pop and fusion, his most recent, 2013’s Walking Shadows, reveals Redman leading in an orchestral setting.
Tickets are $29 to $79. The Mahaiwe is located at 14 Castle Street in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Box office hours are Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 6:00pm and three hours before show times. A limited number of $15 tickets are available for patrons ages 30 and younger through the Mahaiwe ArtSmart Tix program, sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union. For tickets and information, see www.mahaiwe.org or call 413.528.0100.
About the Mahaiwe
Located in downtown Great Barrington, Massachusetts, the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center is the year-round presenter of world-class music, dance, theater, classic films, “Live in HD” broadcasts, and arts education programs for the southern Berkshires and neighboring regions. The intimate jewel box of a theater opened in 1905 and has been in continuous operation for over 100 years. In 2005, the theater experienced a renaissance as a beautifully restored 681-seat venue to offer a broad range of cultural and community events. Today’s “Mahaiwe Mix” of diverse, high quality programming strives to provide meaningful, memorable entertainment for all ages and interests.
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