King for Two Days

For nearly two decades, as Dave King helped turn bands working in the often-ignored realm of improvised music into household names, he never once saw his name on a marquee.

That changes this month when the Walker hosts “King for Two Days,” a long-overdue celebration of the virtuosic, adventurous drummer and the groups instrumental to his success. The two shows will feature his best-known ensembles, The Bad Plus and Happy Apple, plus his New York–based group, Buffalo Collision, as well as the premiere of two projects and surprise performances by at least two local rock bands with which King performs.

King is frequently described as a jazz drummer, but that’s an incomplete description. Better to think of him as a restless creator working in the percussion medium. “The effort, the work, and the mining away is always going into finding something new,” says King of his art. “I’m honoring the music and the exploration.” King is grateful that his work is being recognized at the Walker, and has invited several friends to share the glory, but he’s characteristically humble about the idea of participating in a party for himself.

“I have a voracious appetite for good music,” says King, “and I surround myself with hugely talented people. It’s this music that’s being celebrated. I’m just one component of it”—albeit a brilliant, essential component. March 12–13. Walker Art Center, 1750 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 612-375-7600, walkerart.org