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By Scott Caffrey
When they started, it was like The Bad Plus set about changing what people think about jazz and what could still be accomplished with the ubiquitous “trio.” Previous albums forged a small canon that ultimately thumbed a nose at the jazz establishment. With a fresh, freaked-out energy, their contagious vibe finally gave jazz that punkish flair that had never been fully realized. Due in no small part to interesting cover choices and searing live shows, the Bad Plus quickly became the next cool thing.
Those folks looking to find more of that from the Bad Plus would do better to put These are the Vistas back on their headphones and nod their heads at the past.
Not that you can’t do that with Suspicious Activity?. You just can’t do it enough. Now that they’ve established themselves as a band willing to take some serious chances, they seem to crave recognition for their considerable chops and compositional efforts. As far as I can tell, Reid Anderson (bass), Ethan Iverson (piano), and David King (drums) are each hoping their audience will take them a little more seriously as jazzers now. But they also want to rein in that stodgy old guard that might not.
A little more classical, like the opening “Prehensile Dream,” and much less quiet, like the ending “Forces,” the album’s bookends frame a strange inner picture. There are some very strong efforts here, but too many of them are only pieces, not enough of the theme. There are too many stumbles that go on too long, like way-too-chockablock rhythmic switches and turns on “Knows the Difference.” Coupled with the less-focused “Lost of Love,” you soon realize that some of this stuff is nice, but it also isn’t really going anywhere.
The good news is they still know how to pump (“Anthem of the Earnest”) and jive a little weird around (“Empire Strikes Backwards”). One interesting note is that the set’s lone borrowed song, a complete undressing of “(Theme From) Chariots of Fire,” unfortunately isn’t a highlight.
This is a statement record. I mean, one look at the wacked-out “Get Your War On” approximation that serves as liner notes and you know they’re making some kind of statement(s) in there. I just may not be hip enough to get it. Suspicious Activity? is more like a molting. Not everything works, but they’re throwing a lot of interesting ideas on different tables and twiddling with each. At the very least, you must appreciate the attempt. And at the most, you take a phat jam like “Rhinoceros Is My Profession,” turn it the hell up, and dig it. Because a lot of Suspicious is digable. It’s just a little spotty.
JamBase | New Jersey
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