The Bad Plus

The Bad Plus at City Winery At City Foundry STL

Some concerts are background music. This one asks you to lean in. On December 20, 2026, The Bad Plus comes to City Winery At City Foundry STL in St. Louis, and the draw is simple: a jazz group built around bassist Reid Anderson and drummer Dave King, known for boundary-pushing ensemble music.

That phrase matters if you like your live music with a little risk in it. Boundary-pushing means the group is known for stretching what an ensemble can do, not just playing it safe. If you're a jazz devotee, this is a chance to hear that spirit up close. If you're curious but not yet converted, it's an easy way to meet a band on its own terms, in the room, with the sound moving through the space instead of leaking out of earbuds. The group's recorded work includes Complex Emotions, a title that hints at the kind of depth worth seeing in person.

Then there's the plan itself. The show starts at 7:00 PM, which makes it a natural anchor for a December night out in St. Louis. Invite the friend who always has a new record to recommend. Bring the partner who likes trying something different. Or go solo and let the music do the talking. Nights like this become the ones you bring up later: "Remember when we saw The Bad Plus?" If you want to claim your spot for this St. Louis evening of adventurous jazz, pick up your tickets here and make December 20 a night worth leaving the house for.