Bob Bates

The bassist Bob Bates was active on jazz recordings for roughly a decade, beginning in 1946. He is mostly associated with pianist, composer, and bandleader Dave Brubeck, who was exceedingly popular during the '50s, and also undertook the occasional project with Brubeck associates such as smooth alto saxophonist Paul Desmond. Bates is one of relatively few jazz players to come out of Idaho -- the fact that he was one of three brothers who all played bass also indicates that the Bates family probably can claim a majority vote in any gathering of Idaho bassists. Mama Bates, an organist, clearly had a reason to want her sons to play bass. Bob Bates studied tuba, trumpet, and trombone in high school and delved into bass studies as a classical student in both New York City and San Francisco. He had played bass in a variety of non-classical styles in local Boise bands, however.



Read More