The Bad Plus Potter Taborn

The Bad Plus Chris Potter and Craig Taborn

For Reid Anderson, Dave King, Chris Potter, and Craig Taborn, the music of Keith Jarrett’s American Quartet is more than just a source of inspiration—it is foundational. The quartet’s groundbreaking fusion of swing, freedom, and folk-like melodicism left an indelible mark not only on these four musicians but on an entire generation of jazz artists seeking to balance structure with spontaneity, groove with exploration.

With The Bad Plus Chris Potter and Craig Taborn, these acclaimed artists—each with their own storied careers in contemporary jazz—revisit this formative repertoire with deep reverence and fresh vision. Anderson and King, whose work with The Bad Plus helped redefine modern jazz, combine with Potter’s commanding tenor saxophone and Taborn’s pianistic brilliance to create an ensemble highly attuned to this music's melodic and rhythmic nuance. Together, they capture the raw, exploratory energy of the American Quartet while bringing their own distinct voices to the material.

This project is not simply a tribute—it is a continuation of the spirit that Jarrett, Dewey Redman, Charlie Haden, and Paul Motian embodied: a fearless commitment to musical dialogue, emotional depth, and boundary-pushing improvisation. By paying homage to this seminal music, The Bad Plus Chris Potter and Craig Taborn celebrates the American Quartet’s lasting influence while reaffirming its relevance for today’s jazz landscape.