Bates Update Vote for Summer
Well, well, well. All right, all right, all right. I’m way behind in the updating of my constituency and I apologize. This is in no way brought on by any one else except myself. So, now that we’ve cleared the air let’s get to it. Lots of things happening this summer and this update takes us through the jazz festival.
-Summer Camps I’m teaching at: click thru on the links provided if you have kids or teach kids that are interested in any of these explorations.
Jazz Around Minneapolis (June 13-24) I’ll be teaching with Chris Thomson, Corey Needleman, Soloman Parham, Andy Nelson, Tim Martin, Sarah Minette, Jeremy Beottcher and several other folks. This camp is run by the Minneapolis schools but is open to students from across the metro area. A very fun experience for beginners to advanced students.
Shell Lake Art Center Jazz Improvisation Camp (July 3-8) This will be my 5th year teaching this camp at Shell Lake and it’s continually one of the most satisfying camps I teach at. The faculty is insanely good and the students get a very immersive experience. Luke Gillespie – pno, Chris Olson – gtr, Dave Schmalenberger – dr, Phil Ostrander – tbn, Dave Cooper – tpt, Dave Milne and Dave Herdan – sax.
Twin Cities Bass Camp (July 22-26) I am way way way way way beyond excited to be teaching at TC Bass Camp this summer!!!!!! Doan Brian Roessler and I have been friends for a long time and he has asked me to be involved with this endeavor a few times and I’m excited to finally be able to do it! This camp is beautiful and provides a deep experience in music for any level of bassist. I’ll be humbly teaching alongside the monsterously talented faculty and hopefully getting some deep guidance from Francois Rabbath as well. There is a scholarship contest going on right now here: Scholarship INFO
-In one other bit of news I will be taking the summer off from hosting the second Wednesday of the month at Jazz Central. Due to my new p/t job, my camp schedule and most importantly my fatherly duties I need to make this happen. I’ll return in the fall with some new music and new collaborations. In the meantime Charlie Lincoln will be hosting the music on June 8, July 13 and August 10. Go check him out.
photo by Benny Moreno
UPCOMING SHOWS
Tues 5/24 – 7:00pm $7 – Bryan Nichols CD release @ the Dakota – Bryan is releasing a new album of solo piano that is fantastic. He’ll play the first set and then Bates | Nichols | Bates will play trio. He got some beautiful press from the Star Tribune and you can find the album here: Looking North (it’s not officially available until 5/27 so come to the release show for your advance copy). Bryan is one of the most unique and talented voices in our little scene here: not to be missed!!
Wed 5/25 – 8:30pm $10 – Pete Whitman’s Mystery Play @ Jazz Central – Pete has been putting together some really intriguing lineups of late and I’m happy to be a part of this one. Zacc Harris, Chris Lomheim and Pete Hennig round out this outstanding five piece.
Wed 6/1 – 8:30pm $? – Hanson | Bates | Schutte with Richard Broderick @ Black Dog – Back in February Nathan, Greg and I were part of a Poetry and Jazz confluence that was quite a ride. Richard Broderick was one of the poets we worked with and he’s releasing a book ‘Jesus of Walmart’ on this night. We’ll collaborate and conjugate with him.
Mon 6/6 – 9:30pm $8 – Adam Meckler Quintet @ Icehouse – In April I went on the road for a week with Adam, Zacc, Greg and Joe Mayo and we were able to dig into Adam’s new quintet material over the course of 5 gigs. Come out and hear us explore these tunes from Adam’s new album ‘Wander‘. We’re definitely taking chances and pushing ourselves into new territory.
Tues 6/7 – 8:30pm $10 – Bill Simenson Orchestra @ Jazz Central – Bill and this band are sounding better than ever after a great recording session back in January. All original big band music by Bill and featuring some of the top musicians in Mpls. One of my favorite gigs I play every month!
Mon 6/20 – 9:30pm $8 – Dave Miller w/ Cory Healey and Chris Bates @ Icehouse – Dave is a Chicago based guitarist who Cory and I have had the pleasure of playing with at different times. This will be our first adventure together and we’ll be playing most of the music from Dave’s new album ‘Old Door Phantoms’. Dave is one of the best guitarists on the scene today having spent lots of time in Chicago and NYC and we’re proud to welcome him to the Jazz Implosion for the first time. Do not sleep on this show!!!
Twin Cities Jazz Festival Appearances: This free festival populates downtown St. Paul every summer and I highly encourage you to check out the website and schedule linked above for a treasure trove of sonic delights!
Thurs 6/23 – 10pm $FREE (tips plz!) – Chris Bates’ Red5 @ Black Dog – RED5 is returning to action. There are few things that make me happier than playing this music and I hope you can join us for our first public gig in over 18 months!! We had a very moving show out at Eden Prairie HS in April and we are excited to make our Twin Cities Jazz Festival debut! I’ll refrain from fronting but will lead the band in new music and classics from our ‘New Hope’ album. Zack Lozier, Brandon Wozniak, Chris Thomson, Jt Bates and guitarist Thomas Nordlund.
Fri 6/24 – 7:15pm FREE – Clearwater Hot Club @ 6th Street Stage – Sam Militich is so swinging and fun to play with. Join me, Jay Epstein and Gary Schulte for this fantastic adventure.
Sat 6/25 – 7:30pm FREE – Pete Whitman’s X-tet @ Union Depot Stage – always a pleasure and a challenge to play with this stellar by star-filled band of Twin Cities titans! We’ll be featuring vocalist Lucia Newell on some tunes for this set as well.
Thurs 6/30 – 9pm $10 – Good Vibes trio @ Reverie – We’ll be bringing the swinging good cheer of Dave Hagedorn on vibes and Phil Hey on drums to Thursday Night Jazz at the Reverie! Good Vibes has been laying low due to many other things on the table. We’ll be exploring our Mingus and Ornette along with other selections from our album.
-After this it’s off to Shell Lake for a week. Then I’ll be back with more updates. Meanwhile I’m working on the Red Planet / Bill Carrothers album due out this fall on Shifting Paradigm. New Atlantis music is coming together and we’re trying to find a time to record it. Inventions and Dimensions trio is recording at the end of June for a release TBD. Lastly, I’m preparing to play some solo concerts for TC Bass Camp and record a solo bass album that will feature my old bass in contrast with my new upright bass which will be arriving sometime in mid-July.
Pleased and flipped to be busy with creative and fulfilling work! Thanks to all of you for listening and interacting and pursuing your own music. You inspire me endlessly!
Be excellent to each other! Live music makes it happen!
-cb-