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The Solution is Simple, says Reid Anderson of "Silence Is The Question," on The Checkout

Cristina Gaudalupe
Reid Anderson

Reid Anderson from The Bad Plus says he didn't always have a knack for writing elegant, catchy tunes. As the bassist reveals on The Checkout, the composer says he discovered his voice by doing the opposite: writing overly complicated melodies.

Without question, Anderson's "Silence Is The Question" is one of The Bad Plus' most popular compositions, documented over the years on several albums: These Are The Vistas (2003), Blunt Object: Live in Tokyo (2006), and The Bad Plus Joshua Redman (2015). But many fans don't know the original version  featured in this podcast, which hails from Anderson's 2000 album The Vastness of Space (Fresh Sound/New Talent).

This week, The Bad Plus brings a special guest, guitarist Bill Frisell, to their residency at the Village Vanguard.  The engagement, tonight through Sunday, is part of a finishing lap by the group's original formation, with Anderson, pianist Ethan Iverson and drummer David King. (Orrin Evans takes over the piano chair at the end of the year.)

Subscribe to The Checkout podcast on iTunes and Stitcher.

Assistant Producer: Molly Fichter

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For more than 15 years, Simon Rentner has worked as a host, producer, broadcaster, web journalist, and music presenter in New York City. His career gives him the opportunity to cover a wide spectrum of topics including, history, culture, and, most importantly, his true passion of music from faraway places such as Europe, South America, and Africa.