Ethan Iverson

Ethan Iverson Returns to Birdland

Ethan Iverson returns to Birdland with another all-star trio. Buster Williams and Billy Hart have been one of the great rhythm sections in jazz since playing with Herbie Hancock and McCoy Tyner in the early 1970s. Every time they play together it is a major event.

The Bad Plus and Critical Acclaim

In 2002 Iverson helped form The Bad Plus, a revolutionary and wildly successful avant-garde trio that The New York Times said was better than anyone at melding the sensibilities of post-60s jazz and indie rock. Since leaving TBP, Iverson has released critically-acclaimed albums on ECM and Blue Note, often accompanied by bona fide jazz stars such as Tom Harrell or Jack DeJohnette.

Downbeat has called Iverson a master of melody while Hot House recently raved, "Known for his intellectual depth and adventurous musical spirit, Ethan Iverson has traversed the boundaries of jazz tradition while leaving an indelible mark on its evolution."

Concerts and Audience Interaction

After witnessing a 2024 concert of standards spontaneously chosen by the audience, Stereophile wrote, "Iverson is a natural, consistent crowd-pleaser." For his entire career, he has been finding ways to be accessible while pushing the envelope.

Collaboration and Writing Career

Iverson also has a long-standing relationship with the great modern dance choreographer Mark Morris and still holds down the piano chair in drum legend Billy Hart's long-running quartet. On top of his activities as a pianist and composer, Iverson has an active career as a writer, publishing significant criticism in The Nation, JazzTimes, The New York Times, and the Culture Desk of The New Yorker, in addition to posting frequently on his Substack, Transitional Technology.