Saluting Sgt. Pepper

"Somebody was bound to give the Beatles' magnum opus a jazz makeover on its 50th birthday, and I can't think of anyone better than Django Bates to do it. He has just the right mixture of musicality, mischief and sheer cheek to bring it off".

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"Konstant under aflytningen savner man den kunstneriske originalitet og påtrængende nødvendighed, der kendetegnede The Beatles' album. Django Bates' blodsugende, næsten amatøristiske salut er og bliver af samme grund en helt sindssygt flad sag. Intet væsentligt nyt tilføjer han (eller big bandet eller tigeræggene). Intet, og derfor kan man kun undre sig over, at det kvalitetsbevidste britiske label har ladet albummet udgive!".

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"Bates has worked in Tim Berne's Chaos Totale, Bill Bruford's Earthworks, created commissioned compositions for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and much in-between on the musical spectrum. With each additional release he seems to infuse the aggregate of what he has absorbed over the years, if only in subtle shadings. Bates did not attempt to transcribe the original Sgt. Pepper score, opting to work from his own interpretation of the songs, making this recording all the more remarkable".

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"A skeptical raised eyebrow could be proper, hearing of Django Bates' new Saluting Sgt. Pepper, timed with the pop masterpiece's 50th birthday hoopla. But Bates' superlative musicality and witty, creative vivacity should keep fear at bay, and after one good listen (and growing with each successive spin), it becomes clear that the distinctive keyboardist-composer-conceptualist has managed a remarkable feat - possibly the best "Beatles-meets-jazz" effort to date".