The Bad Plus: The Rite of Spring
Richard Gehr on April 16, 2014
As Frank Zappa demonstrated via musical quotes on the first two Mothers of Invention albums, there’s no more rocking a classical composition than Igor Stravinsky’s Rite Of Spring. Pigeonhole- phobic piano trio The Bad Plus faithfully capture the work’s throbbing pulsations and melodic raptures on a new Sony release that avoids the improvisational pitfalls of flutist Hubert Laws’ 1971 jazz interpretation. Drummer Dave King drives the work particularly hard as pianist Ethan Iverson and bassist Reid Anderson navigate its quirky folk melodies and ritualistic raptures. Spring ahead with this one.
Artist: The Bad Plus
Album: The Rite of Spring
Label: Sony Masterworks
