Django Bates

Django Bates (born 2 October 1960) is a British composer, multi-instrumentalist and band leader. He plays the piano, keyboards and the tenor horn. He writes large-scale compositions on commission.

Early life

Bates was born in Beckenham, Kent, and attended Sedgehill Secondary School. While at this school, he also attended the Centre for Young Musicians in London (1971–77), where he learned trumpet, piano, and violin. In 1977-78 he studied at Morley College.

As jazz musician

In 1979, Bates founded Human Chain in 1979 and in the 1980s, he rose to prominence in a jazz orchestra called Loose Tubes.

In 1991, he started his own 19-piece jazz orchestra Delightful Precipice. He also put together the Powder Room Collapse Orchestra (which recorded Music for The Third Policeman), and created Circus Umbilicus, a musical circus show.

Bates has appeared as a sideman as a member of Dudu Pukwana's Zila, Tim Whitehead's Borderline, Ken Stubbs' First House, Bill Bruford's Earthworks, Sidsel Endresen and in the bands of George Russell and George Gruntz. He has performed alongside Michael Brecker, Tim Berne, Christian Jarvi, Vince Mendoza, David Sanborn, Kate Rusby and Don Alias.