For the first new song from New York City-based jazz trio the Bad Plus’s upcoming album “It’s Hard,” they returned to their Minneapolis roots for a cover of Prince’s “The Beautiful Ones.” “It has a great melody, interesting changes and clear sections. And it’s dramatic,” says bassist Reid Anderson. “It’s undeniably pop music, but it’s also a little strange. It kind of sums up Prince’s appeal in that way.” The song, which the band recorded a month before the pop star's death, premieres today on Speakeasy below.

Anderson says...