Listen to this weird cover of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb.” To fully appreciate this track, I had to get over the fact that I’ve heard the original too many times to contemplate. It’s a great song, but it’s been overplayed to death. But then again, The Bad Plus is a jazz group. I quickly put the song and album into that mental category of “Here’s a jazz band doing rock covers to reach a wider audience,” etc. I usually stay away from this kind of thing. But, as I said, this is a really good example of how that can be done well.

A few things to listen for:

1) During the pre-choruses, pianist Ethan Iverson plays those characteristic, arpeggiated chords, but unlike the Floyd, he frees up the rhythm, creating a beautiful chordal “wash.” For the first pre-chorus and most of the second, he sticks pretty close to the harmony of the passage; THEN, listen to what he does from 5:03 to 5:43 of the second pre-chorus (When I was a child / I caught a fleeting glimpse / Out of the corner of my eye. / I turned to look but it was gone / I cannot put my finger on it now / The child is grown, / The dream is gone). Amazing: he descends and ascends chromatically. The effect is totally disorienting and brilliantly timed.

2) Instead trying to live up to the famous “aaaaaaaahhhhhhh” of the Floyd original, The Bad Plus goes in the other direction, with total silence (3:47 – 3:50 in the YouTube version). Eerie.

3) Reid Anderson (bass) and David King (drums) really add a lot of interest that I can’t really describe in a detailed way. It’s like the groove from Paul Simon’s “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover,” but in a song that doesn’t suck.

4) I’m now a fan of singer Wendy Lewis, who(m)ever she is.

The album, For All I Care, has tons of other highlights, including interesting versions of a Ligeti Etude, Yes’ “Long Distance Runaround,” Heart’s “Barracuda,” Nirvana’s “Lithium,” and Milton Babbit’s Semi-Simple Variations.

Verse 1: Hello? /Is there anybody in there? / Just nod if you can hear me. / Is there anyone home? / Come on, Come on, Come on, now, / I hear you’re feeling down. / Well, I can ease your pain / Get you on your feet again. // Relax. / I’ll need some information first. / Just the basic facts. / Can you show me where it hurts?

Pre-Chorus: There is no pain you are receding / A distant ship’s smoke on the horizon. / You are only coming through in waves. / Your lips move but I can’t hear what you’re saying. / When I was a child I had a FEVER My hands felt just like two balloons. / Now I’ve got that feeling once again / I can’t explain, you would not understand / This is not how I am.

Chorus: I have become comfortably numb.

(solo)

Verse 2: O.K. / Just a little pin prick. / There’ll be no more [aaaaaaaaah!] / But you may feel a little sick. / Can you stand up? / I do believe it’s working, good. / That’ll keep you going through the show / Come on it’s time to go.

Pre-Chorus: There is no pain you are receding / A distant ship’s smoke on the horizon. / You are only coming through in waves. / Your lips move but I can’t hear what you’re saying. / When I was a child / I caught a fleeting glimpse / Out of the corner of my eye. / I turned to look but it was gone / I cannot put my finger on it now / The child is grown, / The dream is gone.

Chorus: I have become comfortably numb.

Album info: For All I Care (2008)

John McLaughlin, guitar; Billy Cobham, drums; Miles, trumpet; Michael Henderson, bass; Herbie Hancock, Farfisa organ; Steve Grossman, soprano sax.

So spontaneous and carefree. Listen to where guitarist John McLaughlin is AT on this track, and wish you were there too.

A couple minutes in, Miles must’ve yelled at McLaughlin, “Go to B-flat!,” because McLaughlin suddenly goes to that key (the rest of the song was in E), while bassist Michael Henderson is slow to catch on. It results in some really weird-sounding, tritone music for a few measures.

Also, if you are fanatical about this stuff (like me), you should pick up the Complete Jack Johnson Sessions. These “complete” box sets are often hit-and-miss, but this one is the best of the bunch. Chances are, if in fact you are as fanatical about this stuff as I am, you already own it. If not, i’d be happy to hook you up.

Next stop: the Complete On The Corner Sessions (1973) … OOOOHHHHH.

Be SURE to listen to this interview with drummer Billy Cobham about this session:

Album info: A Tribute To Jack Johnson (1971)