How do you begin to describe a paragon? "Brilliant, powerful, a virtuouso." "Elegant, interpretive, one of the great ones."
Certainly these would be accurate. In fact they are exactly how the New York Times, Washington Post, and the San Francisco Chronicle, among others, describe Bates' dramatic and versatile piano playing. But the unusual thing about this man is that these quotes not only identify Bates' playing but identify the man himself.
A perfect physical specimen at age forty- four, with muscles bulging out of his unpretentious clothing, an extremely gentle yet passionate nature, and the honest face of a twenty-year-old, Bates has remarkably been able to translate his sensitivity and passion for music into his life.
"Music to me is a microcosm of life," Bates claims. "It's the sunny days, the rainy days, the bad days and the good days, where your emotions just go through incredible contrasts." And on meeting Bates, unlike many concert pianists, one can immediately understand where the inner beauty comes from in his playing.
Bates feels tremendously blessed to have successfully pursued and enjoyed a career in music. In addition to a rigorous life of concertizing and practicing, he has for many years now tried to express his love for his art by giving back the gift of music to society.
"I'm at the point now where I'm actively involved in my chosen profession and I recognize that I didn't get there by myself." For Bates this means going into schools and helping to organize groups to get young people involved and aware of the tremendous rewards in the field of music.
"My presence as a black man in this type of career is important for the development of the country," Bates says. "I have a certain pride in what I do and if there are others out there who may be interested in music, I want to present all the positive sides of that to them."
Bates brings his virtouso pianistic skills and presence to the Dartmouth community this Friday in "Gershwin By Request" at 8 p.m. in Spaulding Auditorium. Hailed for his versatility in performing both the classics and modern jazz, Bates will be performing a delectable selection of Gershwin favorites including "Rhapsody in Blue", hits like "Embraceable You" and selections from"Porgy and Bess". These will be expertly performed by the internationally accredited soloists, Eddye Pierce, soprano, and Benjamin Matthews, bass-baritone.
