– from Frizzle Fry by Les Claypool / Primus

This will be the last Bates update in this form. Starting with the next mailing I’m switching to Mail Chimp and you’ll all have the opportunity to opt in or out of this whole shebang at that time. I hope you will consider staying on as I have some fun things planned for next year!

But first you should know there is a big show this weekend at the Artists Quarter!!!

Atlantis Quartet returns to the AQ for a weekend of new music in preparation for our new album!

Come out and join Pete Hennig, Brandon Wozniak, Zacc Harris and Chris Bates as we fine tune our newest material for our trip into the studio Dec 17-18.

We start at 9pm both nights. There is a $10 cover and all ages are welcome!  www.artistsquarter.com  651-292-1359

Check out me in my Adam Linz costume![/caption]

Other big things on the horizon –

My trio Good Vibes with Dave Hagedorn and Phil Hey will be recording Dec 2-3 for an album to be released next year!

Babatunde Lea Quartet plays at Studio Z on Dec 8th at 7:30pm. This band features Zacc Harris, Richard Johnson, Tunde and CB.  www.jazzatstudioz.org

Todd Clouser & A Love Electric will be performing and filming music from the new album ‘The Naked Beat’ at the Turf Club’s basement lounge on Dec 19th @ 9pm! The band features Todd Clouser, Adam Meckler, Greg Schutte and CB.  www.toddclouser.com

Pat Mallinger Quartet featuring Bill Carrothers, Kenny Horst and Chris Bates @ Artists Quarter Dec 28-29.

NEW YEARS EVE at the Artists Quarter! With Carole Martin, Pat Mallinger, Phil Aaron, Kenny and CB! http://www.artistsquarter.com/content/view/1869/31/

Looking into 2013 I’m very excited about finishing up the mixing and preparing the world for GREASE GUN feat: Dave King, Anthony Cox and the Bates Brothers.

I promise to post some preview clips on Soundcloud of this free improv juggernaut soon. I’m waiting for everyone to listen and get back to me about how it’s sounding.

Framework (Chris Olson, Jay Epstein, CB) will be collaborating with the Bach Society again for more Baroque and Jazz at Patrick’s Cabaret on Jan 25-26.

Tours with Todd Clouser in Jan, Feb and April are being planned and the Bates Brothers will be traveling to France Jan 29-Feb 6 to play some festivals with the fantastic and highly respected Tony Hymas. We made a record with Tony last year called Blue Door – you can find it here: http://www.natomusic.fr/catalogue/musique-jazz/cd/nato-disque.php?id=283 or here: http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Door/dp/B0071W67KM

I would like to personally thank all of you for supporting our community of creative improvisors here in the Twin Cities in 2012! I’ve been truly humbled by your support and lucky to have achieved so much this year personally and creatively! We (and I) could not do this without your interest and continued support!

Lastly – I put out my first CD as a leader this year with my new quintet Red 5. ‘New Hope’ has received some great press and I’m super proud of it. If you haven’t already downloaded it from Amazon or Itunes please consider hitting me up directly and getting a signed copy! I’m all hooked up with paypal and everything so it would be real easy for you. Just send me a direct email – [email protected] and we can work out the details.

Here’s a live video of Red 5 in action:

Happy Holidays and All the best to all of you in 2013!!!!

CB