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Just how did a flaxen haired Kristine Mills become Houston’s jazz darling? According to Mills, this wasn’t an accident. The genre that is a confluence of African and European music traditions flows through her veins.
She reminisces about her first trip to the Big Apple, which is recognized as the jazz hub of the world and where all of the greats made their name. “My mom would take me to New York when I was in high school. I would drag her to go see Nina Simone and Bobby Short at the Café Carlyle; and I would go to Sweet Basil and Blue Note. I was just really interested and she indulged me.
“Growing up, my mom had me listening to The Great American Songbook; I didn’t like it very much. But, I would listen to Miles Davis and Ella Fitzgerald’s versions and started exploring them on my own.”
She describes her style, “Its sweaty jazz; a fresh take on the classics, no deviation from it and very true to the traditions. I like the blonde hair to fly and sweat going everywhere.”
Mills started recording her second offering, Playing, in April 2007 and released it in September 2008. Her first CD, Kristine Knows MUSIC started as a demo and became viral on iTunes in Japan and Europe. It garnered her much praise and a nomination in the “Best Jazz” category at Houston Press Music Awards.
Mills, who has performed with the Duke Ellington Orchestra as a guest vocalist in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, endorses musicians from Houston. “There are some exceptional players from TSU [Texas Southern University] who are jazz ambassadors. TSU has a long reputation of having their players tapped and going on to having very distinguished careers. Barrie Lee Hall Jr. was tapped to play with Duke and a few months later, he brought his friend Rocky White [drummer] to the Duke Ellington Orchestra.” –staff writer
