Bates Update – April 2015

Just the details please! As I said last month there’s a lot going on. It continues into spring and I will spare you the gory details of life, liberty and the pursuit of balance. Saturday April 4th: Steve Kenny Quartet @ Black Dog (Steve Kenny, Brandon Wozniak, Babatunde Lea & CB) 8:30pm  $10  All Ages Monday…

Read More

Jason Melek Memorial Project

In January, I told you guys about reconnecting with some HS friends and working to realize the musical vision of Jason Melek. Here’s a way for you to help us get this project completed. My friends Jason Gerling, Dave Melek and the Melek family thank you. Just follow the link here: Jason Melek Memorial listen to…

Read More

Bates Update March 2015

Not much to say right now. Super busy. New gigs posted on the calendar thru May. Lots to look forward to. I got adjusted last month by bass chiropractor Mark Dresser (www.markdresser.com). It was truly a pleasure to play for him at a master class at the UofMN (thanks to Chris Brown) but it was…

Read More

The Bates Update – February 2015

Working hard on so many projects right now. The Jason Melek memorial I wrote about last month is moving right along and continues to reward us all with unexpected niceties. Dean Granros’ Tall Tales is recording this week for a new album to be released later this year on Shifting Paradigm Records. Enormous and Framework…

Read More

The Bates Update – Jan 2015

Happy New Year everyone! Gather ‘round for a tale of tragedy, triumph, tribute and revitalization. In this age of social media and transitory relationships we are often feeling more connected and yet perhaps we remain farther apart than ever before. Through my use of social media though, I have managed to reconnect with many of…

Read More

The Bates Update – December 2014

Art Blakey, Art Tatum, Art Pepper, Artie Shaw, Art Farmer, Art Davis, Art Taylor, Art Lande, Art Hirahara. ART ART ART. It’s all about that art dang it. What kind of art? Well, in the case of these ‘Arts’ it’s jazz but there’s a lot of other art too. Why do we create art? Why…

Read More

The Bates Update – The Road Thru November

I recently had the opportunity to reunite with Pat Moriarty, Ellen Lease and our guest Michael Attias! It was truly a beautiful night of music making and I encourage you to check out Michael. He is a powerful voice on the NYC scene and deserves far wider recognition than he has. Check him out here: www.michaelattias.com…

Read More

The Bates Update – Late September, 2014

The Bates Update – Late September, 2014. What’s on my mind, you ask? Death. Death is on my mind. It has been a seemingly unprecedented year for it. From celebrities and dignitaries to the innocent deaths of thousands around the world from natural and political disasters, death is everywhere. Maybe I’m just paying more attention…

Read More

Joel Harrison, Pete Hennig, Chris Bates

Here comes a special evening folks! Join us at Jazz Central on Saturday September 20th when we invite NYC based guitarist and composer Joel Harrison to hang and collaborate with Chris Bates and Pete Hennig from Atlantis Quartet. This evening’s concert will truly be special as it features the music from Joel’s new Cuneiform album ‘Mother Stump’.…

Read More

The Bates Update – Wind Sprint into September

Well folks this awesome summer has wound down to it’s final week. I have had a great season playing music with new and old friends and I even got some R&R in over the last few weeks. It’s good to recharge the batteries. I’m sprinting into September with a Tour de Twins Towns courtesy of…

Read More