Activate Infinity

With 2018’s *Never Stop II*, this long-lived jazz power trio signaled a major change: Pianist and founding member Ethan Iverson was yielding the bench to Orrin Evans, acclaimed as a leader in his own right. The direct reference to 2010’s *Never Stop* conveyed a sense of uninterrupted progress, and indeed *Never Stop II* and its successor, *Activate Infinity*, have found the spirit and mission of the band intact. Once again the program is fully original, and there’s even a bit of catalog-rummaging with a revisit of drummer Dave King’s “Thrift Store Jewelry” (from *Prog*) and bassist Reid Anderson’s “Love Is the Answer” (from the very first album, *Motel*), allowing Evans to put his own stamp on older material. Anderson’s “Avail,” “Slow Reactors,” and “Undersea Reflection” are full of dynamism and a certain romantic-harmony-meets-rock ethos. Evans’ “The Red Door” and “Looking in Your Eyes,” respectively, have an infectious groove and a pristine, flowing, gradually unfolding melodicism. King’s “Dovetail Nicely,” fast and funky with an intricate metrical design, gets at one of the band’s most distinctive qualities, and certainly one of King’s as a drummer: the ability to play heavily intense music at moderate volume, animated by a necessary restraint.

Reid Anderson, Bass Orrin Evans, Piano Dave King, Drums Activate Infinity is the second album from The Bad Plus since the remarkable pianist Orrin Evans joined the trio back in 2018. With their sights set on a new trajectory, combined with an abundance of spirit and creativity, the trio has produced one of their finest and most original albums to date. This is group music played with vibrant imagination and vigour. It’s real, deeply honest and personal. Their joy in music-making together is clear and their vision is committed and democratic. With a new home on the British label, Edition Records, the trio are working with a renewed intent that will see them grow to new heights and continue to flourish. Sit back, listen and enjoy the ride! Tracks 1, 2, 7 & 8 by Reid Anderson (Published by Dirty Showtunes Music/BMI), tracks 4 & 5 by Orrin Evans (Published by Big Jimmy Music/SESAC) and tracks 3 & 6 by Dave King (Published by Franz Kline In The Dunk Tank Music/BMI) Produced by The Bad Plus With writing credits shared between all members, the music on Activate Infinity is protean yet focussed, individually written but collectively produced. These are songs written with the freedom to explore and the titles represent the deep levels of imagination the band has become known for. Reid Anderson’s Avail is a vehicle for exuberance; Orrin’s quirky and joyous The Red Door explores the space behind the red door not the door itself; Dave King’s Thrift Store Jewelry is inspired by reclaimed treasure. Each has a message that is deeply personal, but universal. This is The Bad Plus now: a band entering a new era, a period of intense creativity, renewed energy and excitement. And they are loving the ride. As the title suggests, the trio show no sign of slowing down. The pursuit of creativity is on and they are searching for new trajectories. With an abundance of adventure and spirit, their joy of making music together is clear and paramount - it’s their driving force and their ultimate purpose. The idea of a spirited and endless journey will inspire the band and their fans to activate infinity in countless rich and creative ways. So sit back, listen and enjoy the ride!

When the Bad Plus released Never Stop II in 2018, new pianist Orrin Evans had been in the group for less than a year.