Update: WOW. It’s finally here. After many months of working and waiting it’s all happening this weekend. I’m releasing my debut CD as a leader and my band Chris Bates’ Red 5 will be throwing down at the Artists Quarter. We’ll be taking you on a musical journey and I would love to see you out and about!

I am truly humbled by the kind words and support I’ve received from so many critics, writers and fans.

Here are some links in case you missed these:

Bebopified Interview (thanks Pamela Espeland): http://bit.ly/PWeFp0

Jazz Police CD review (thanks Andrea Canter): http://bit.ly/QjwYos

Star Tribune promo (thanks Tom Surowicz): http://bit.ly/QFDHey

Pioneer Press promo. Scroll down please. (thanks Dan Emerson): http://bit.ly/RM56O2

MPR (thanks David Cazares): http://bit.ly/PbOYBG

City Pages (thanks Natalie Gallagher, Reed Fischer) http://bit.ly/QYxVXW

I also made the radio rounds to KFAI (Larry Englund and Emel Sherzad), KBEM (MaryAnn Sullivan) and The Current (David Campbell, Andrea Swensson, Jon Schoder). Support these shows and check out the archived streams. Thanks to David Cazares @ MPR and Dan Emerson @ Pioneer Press as well. Their promo will be running later this week.

Come out and get some ‘NEW HOPE’ this weekend!

Thanks for your support! We’re all in this together and I couldn’t do this without you!

Friday Sept 14th and 

Saturday Sept 15th: Chris Bates’ Red 5 @ Artists Quarter.

CD RELEASE PARTY! It’s finally happening! Come celebrate the release of the brand new album ‘New Hope’.  We’ll be playing all the music from the new album plus some old favorites. Feat: JT Bates on drums, Zack Lozier on trumpet, Chris Thomson and Brandon Wozniak saxophones and Chris Bates on acoustic and electric bass.

9pm   $10 cover   All Ages welcome (w/ guardian)    www.artistsquarter.com