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…

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Sorry mates, I’m late, for this important Bates Update

March came in like a Lion in my world. I’m cruising along working on my music and gigs, taking care of my family and household. When BAM – a part time job appears that’s close to my house, fits neatly into my available dad hours and it’s in the music industry. So, apologies true believers…

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Bates Update Feb 2015

Just finished two spectacular days recording with the Bill Simenson Big Band. It has been very satisfying to hear it all coming together so clearly on all these original pieces written by Bill. I’ve been playing with him for over three years now down at Jazz Central and I have to say that the incubation…

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The Bates Update: Mega Year End Appreciation Edition

It’s been an unprecedented year for feeling totally and completely overwhelmed by human stupidity, ignorance, violence and racism. Without going into any more detail I think we can all agree that our personal choices are the only thing we can actually control in these situations. I find myself engaging with people more directly on these…

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The Bates Update – October 2015

Greetings. Fall is creeping up on us like a phantom. The chill is in the air and we’ve got that midwestern nesting instinct faintly glowing in our ether, like a phantom. I’ve been getting in my last faint whispers of summer as it fades into time (like a phantom). I would be remiss if I did not mention…

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Working, Working on a Building

Sometimes you have to break hard left or right to avoid the onslaught of normalcy. Stagnation is death, but so often it’s a slow, grinding, morbidly self inflicted death. Living in the shadows of your own stench. Rotting under the weight of creative needs and desires. Like a glacial tsunami it overtakes you in ways…

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The Bates Update – August 2015

Holy cow. I just let July fly by. I took my first vacation in a long long time this past week and it was super refreshing. Looking ahead into August and beyond there are some great things brewing in the music still. For the record I did not bail on the Bates update last month,…

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May the Bates Update be with you, always.

Greetings! Happy Spring! Rebirth and renewal abound! Everything is so exciting don’t you think?!??! Well, it’s been a helluva month. Thanks to Jason Squinobal I had a great weekend at the U of Mn Morris Jazz Festival with Chicagoans Scott Hesse -gtr and Rob Haight -sax, and the great Phil Hey. I got to play the beautiful…

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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…

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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…

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