Bassist Michael Bates composes music ranging from contrapuntal improvisation to gorgeous ballads with bows to Shostakovich, Miles Davis and a host of creative influences.

Before turning to composition, the native of Canada spent six or seven years studying the string bass with key artists, among them Yoshio Nagashima, former principal bassist of the Tokyo Symphony. In addition to performing with various ensembles and assembling his own band, he was on the faculty at the Banff International Jazz workshop five years.