Yes, the Bad Plus ventures into 20th Century classical music with nary a tongue in cheek. They take on Stravinksky’s famous Rite of Spring, and do it as legit as their sensibilities take them. Yes, there are moments of swing as on “Sacrificial Dance,” but for the most part, the jarring rhythms of “The Augurs of Spring” are respected, while thundering piano pedals fill the hall on the “Introduction” which has pianist Ethan Iverson using every sound the instrument can dish out. Sounds reminiscent of a clock factory hammer away on “Ritual Abduction” while David King pounds away with an avalanche of heavy metal attitude. The intricacies of this piece are kept intact, with Iverson and bassist Reid Anderson doing some impressive work on “The Sage” and “Spring Rounds.” These gents don’t keep still-you’ve got to tip the hat to that!
Sony Masterworks
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