Biography
Leon Bates, 2 October 1960, Beckenham, Kent, England. A self-taught pianist, Bates formally studied the instrument, together with trumpet and violin, at London’s Centre for Young Musicians in the 70s and later attended the young musicians course at Morley College. In 1978, he dropped out from the Royal College of Music (after two weeks). Bates began a series of important associations with many of the leading young musicians who graced the burgeoning British jazz scene of the 80s and several of the concurrently popular African jazz musicians. In 1983, by which time he had already experienced stints with Tim Whitehead, Steve Argüelles (with whom he formed the trio Human Chain), Bill Bruford, Harry Beckett and Dudu Pukwana’s Zila, he became a founder member of Loose Tubes. In 1986, Bates guested with the George Russell Orchestra on their UK tour, and by this time was also playing in the quartet First House, with alto saxophonist Ken Stubbs, and in...
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