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.