The Bad Plus: Made Possible – review

Made Possible is at once vintage Bad Plus in its striking themes, nonchalant time-bends and full-on collective improv, and proof of this awesome ensemble's continuing evolution. All the tracks are originals, apart from the late drummer Paul Motian's poignant Victoria, and there's some limited, but telling, use of electronics. The opening Pound for Pound is a classic slow-burn, unveiled minimally by pianist Ethan Iverson before he starts answering the inquiries of his right hand line with his left, and winds up in a chord storm driven by David King's implacable drumming. Seven Minute Mind is a dazzling rhythm game for a walking ostinato stabbed and chipped at by repeating single notes. Sing for a Silver Dollar mixes an anthemic melody, abstract-improv bass from Reid Anderson, slow funk and a lyrical ending, while In Stitches is a meditation in broken chords that King quietly develops into a drum'n'bass groove. On the wild collective finale, the group wind up sounding as integrated in free-fall as the Necks.

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