Here’s the skinny. I’m trimming the fat and keeping my energy more directed right now. This allows me more time to hang with my family, play my bass, compose new music and generally not run around like a crazy person! I see this benefitting so many aspects of my life already and I’m looking forward to bringing you guys the best music i possibly can! Thanks for hanging in with me and supporting all the projects I’m in. It is truly appreciated!

GIGS!!!!!

Tuesday Sept 8th  7:30pm  All Ages  $1-100 donation

Framework (Olson, Bates, Epstein) plays with the super swinging and suave Tony DeMarco on vocals at the Black Dog.

Wednesday Sept 9th  8:30pm  All Ages  $10

Good Vibes trio plays for Magica Improvisada. Phil, Dave and I have been pretty active recently in a quintet context so we’re excited to play trio again for you. Come and get some Good Vibes at Jazz Central!

Sunday & Monday Sept 13th & 14th  7pm  All Ages  FREE (for real this is FREE)

Bill Carrothers trio with Chris Bates and Jay Epstein at Crooner’s Supper Club. Bill is one of the most gifted and unique voices in jazz today. I’ve played with him many times and it is always a total pleasure and swift kick in the arse. These two gigs are at Crooner’s Supper Club and will be FREE OF CHARGE! Click thru the link for all the info. Please come out and support this trio and venue. Buy Bill’s Merch and help make him some $$$.

Here’s Evidence with Bill, me and Ari Hoenig!

And Scrapple from the Apple:

Friday Sept 18th  9pm  All Ages  $10

Davu Seru | Brandon Wozniak | Chris Bates in trio. In the spirit of Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, Joe Lovano and several other masterful heroes this trio will get down on it in the sax, bass, drums trio format at Friday Night Jazz @ the Nicollet. Don’t sleep on this one.

Monday Sept 21  9:30pm  21+  $8

Bates | Nichols | Bates holds court at the Jazz Implosion. Jt and Bryan and I go way way way back in time. We’ve played and taught together in many contexts. Our trio adventures have been increasing in frequency as we work towards making a recording. Come hear us explore our original music at the Icehouse.

Tuesday Sept 29th  8pm  All Ages  $5

Red Planet plays Vieux Carre! We’re pleased and flipped to be back at our old stomping grounds. Dean Magraw, Jay Epstein and CB will take you on a journey to mystical lands and place you gently on your front porch at the end.

October preview:

Saturday Oct 10th is the reunion of my original Vibes trio- Low Blows. Back in the 90’s I was seeking other sounds outside of Motion Poets and collaborated with JT and Dave Hagedorn in a freewheeling, earthshaking modern jazz trio. We’ll be playing Saturday Night Jazz at the Black Dog. Check it out here: Low Blows

Red Planet is overdue (IMO) for a new album and we’re finally getting it together in October. We’ll be inviting a very special guest to collaborate with us, none other than Bill Carrothers. We are in the studio the week of Oct 12th and we are currently ramping up repertoire for this exploration. I’m very excited about this one! Look out for this quartet album to be released in 2016. It’s going to be magic!

Monday Oct 19th is the CD Release party for Fall of the House of Usher. This band has been going at it for a couple of years now. Led by the vision of Chris Cunningham we have recorded several live shows at the Icehouse and Chris has meticulously edited several of them together with additional studio supplements. It is a truly huge sound with 5 woodwinds, 3 rhythm and vocals that explores the outer reaches of groove and improv. thru the slip-sync methodology. CC, CB, Greg Schutte, Cole Pulice, Nathan Hanson, Jon Davis, Adrian Larkin, Elliot Wachs, Ivan Cunningham and Adam Svec along with special guests this will be a supreme evening!

Ta Ta for now – CB