Authors

Canadian-born bassist, bandleader, and composer, also a curator and educator who thrives in many musical worlds. Drawing upon his experience in jazz, classical, punk and hardcore, Arabic, and improvised music, Michael Bates has composed and recorded a catalogue that often defies categories. A New Yorker for over twenty years, Bates can be found in the heart of several music scenes as both a bandleader and sideman. A prolific and unflinching advocate of all things creative, he has composed 100’s of works for string quartet, chamber orchestra and every combination of jazz ensemble imaginable. Wide acclaimed recordings of his music are found on several labels such as Sunnyside, Greenleaf, Anaklasis, Clean Feed, Fresh Sound, Stereoscopic, and dozens of others. Recent projects include a power trio, Northern Spy (in tribute to Curtis Mayfield and Donny Hathaway), the chamber ensemble Acrobat (violin, clarinet, bassoon, double bass, drums, and string quartet) performing radical arrangements of Dmitri Shostakovich and Witold Lutosławski, the Michael Bates Sextet performing three horn originals in tribute to Wayne Shorter and Sandcatchers, an oud and lap steel driven band exploring the intersection of Turkish Maqam and Americana. In addition to his composing, recording, and performing, Bates has focused on curating several music venues and festivals in addition to teaching and presenting his music in masterclasses around the world. He is the recipient of many composition and touring grants from the Canada Council of the Arts as well as several commissions including the One World Symphony