They explore different sides of jazz, as they will show on the North Side this weekend, but they are alike in their restlessness for the job. They both have successful recording careers, but see the need for change. "We live in a world of music," Lovano says about pairing the two acts.
"There is a need to reach out and attract a new audience." Pianist Ethan Iverson admits The Bad Plus maps its way through some "thorny corners" in its music. He says he has great respect and admiration for Lovano's broad look at jazz.
"So we'll be listening to his concerts each night," he says. He and Lovano talk about the need to stay open to music and all of its professional changes. That attitude shows up clearly in their work.
The Bad Plus, for instance, is a group that appeals to a younger audience focused on indie rock and intelligent pop. On its new album, it does versions of songs by Tears for Fears and David Bowie, as well as Burt Bacharach's "This Guy's in Love With You." The new album, "PROG," is the group's fifth since 2001, but is its first on its own label, Do the Math, which the group formed to win more control over its work.
Although Iverson says it former label, Sony, didn't try to control the group's direction or creativity, he says the band -- which also includes bassist Reid Anderson and drummer David King -- wanted to avoid any chance of interference in their work. Their label will be distributed in this country and Canada by Heads Up, but the band will maintain all production controls, as well as possession of the masters. "This is a difficult time for the recording industry," he says, "and its nice to have this freedom when working with a company that has a very strong presence in the industry.
" Lovano says his label, Blue Note, has given him the freedom "to draw on my experiences." Album after album, Lovano's work emerges in ever-changing forms. On one, he is playing in a nonet.
On another, he's in a trio with piano master Hank Jones. On his current album, "Streams of Expression," he works with a nonet, in rich orchestral explorations by Gunther Schuller and on a new instrument, the Aulochrome. "Each album is a springboard into the next," he says, pointing to a forthcoming duo project with Jones.
In the upcoming gigs, he says he will be playing quartet versions of some of the numbers on "Streams of Expression." The quartet here will include pianist James Weidman, bassist Esperanza Spaulding and drummer Otis Brown. The music also will feature the Aulochrome, a new instrument that resembles a double-barreled soprano sax and has a polyphonic sound.
There is a simple reason why his music is constantly shifting, Lovano says. "I have built a lot of relationships with a variety of people over the years," he says, "and that has developed a good repertoire." Bob Karlovits can be reached at or (412) 320 7852.
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