Innovative piano ensemble The Bad Plus plays Oats Park

The Churchill Arts Council will present a performance by the eclectic and innovative ensemble The Bad Plus at the Oats Park Art Center, 151 E. Park St., on May 17.

The piano trio has performed around the world at rock festivals, jazz clubs and symphony halls.

They favor group improvisation over individual solos and hover in a space between pop, indie rock and postmodern music.

In spirited originals and sprightly covers - from the theme for "Chariots of Fire," Björk, and Nirvana to Blondie and Bert Bacharach - they carve out a territory of their own.

Rolling Stone magazine has called them "hot players with hard-rock hearts."

Their sound defies categorization and crosses boundaries.

They've performed on NPR, at every major U.S. jazz festival as well as at Joe's Pub, the Blue Note, Birdland and the Highline Ballroom.

For more information on The Bad Plus, visit www.thebadplus.com.

The show starts at 8 p.m.; doors open at 7 p.m., and there will be a no-host bar.

Tickets are $17 for CAC members, $20 for nonmembers and $10 for children/students; at Jeff's Copy Express, Postage Plus, ITT at NAS Fallon or by calling 423-1440.