kristine mills music - Looking Back. Moving Forward. EPK

Looking Back. Moving Forward

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED, AWARD-WINNING JAZZ ARTIST KRISTINE MILLS ANNOUNCES NEW LONDON SHOW AT PIANO SMITHFIELD APRIL 29, 2022.

This past November, Mills released ‘Looking Back. Moving Forward.' – her seventh studio album and definitive collection of three decades of her original music. She is thrilled to announce her April 29 return to Piano Smithfield (14 Long Lane, London EC1A 9PN, p: 020 7796 9777) with London-based, acclaimed pianist, writer and producer Janette Mason and bassist/dj Tom Mason.

"I just love London!" said Kristine Mills. "I’m enjoying performing and collaborating with a new coterie of London-based jazz and world music musicians for a fresh perspective. The city and its musicians are inspiring."

Mills is known in Houston as being a constant and persisting voice in the jazz scene. With her latest album project, a key moment in her three-decade long career, she received critical acclaim and media support back in the States. She premiered the single “Hold Fast” with Houston CityBook on June 29 (see here for the premiere) and celebrated the premiere with a sold-out show at Warehouse 72 on July 1.

"Both songs hold true to the infectiously jazzy sound that has propelled Mills into headliner gigs at events like the Brazilian International Jazz Festival and allowed her to play sold-out shows in theaters and performing arts centers around the world — from Houston to Sao Paolo," said Houston CityBook.

She followed up with two EP release concerts, Thursday, Nov. 4 in Austin, Texas at Parker Jazz Club where she performed with the critically-acclaimed house band, led by Kris Kimura, and Friday, Nov. 12, Houston at Warehouse 72 with a band lead by Chad Wesselkamper. After Kristine’s move to London, she debuted at Piano Smithfield on January 20, 2022 at 7:00 pm.

For more information on Kristine Mills, see here. The new album, as well as her other releases are available on Spotify, Apple Music and all streaming platforms.

“Looking Back. Moving Forward. EP is the retrospective of my songwriting career,” expressed Kristine Mills. “It encompasses songs written at different times in my life, but they share universal truths about love, life, and death that we all can relate to. Many of the songs are collaborations with other artists which then pull from their experiences to enrich the writing and feelings found in the songs.”

This album is different for Kristine, as she is pulling from old works that were never released, remixing some of her more popular tunes and collaborating with younger artists and artists who perform in other genres. Raul da Gama with World Music Reports says, “Kristine Mills’ talent for songwriting goes well beyond that realm. She is a fine writer of The Song, an even better writer of The Ballad and best of all she writes a compelling narrative. In short, Mills may be considered a complete musician."

Songs on “Looking Back. Moving Forward.” were conceived in pairs from various “sessions” recorded in 2008 to the present. The first set of songs, “The HOUSTON Sessions,” were co-produced by Gabriel Santiago, recorded in Houston and mixed and mastered in Brazil. Kristine’s first two singles are a contrast in love - “Hold Fast” was written in honor of her new husband, where “Dip My Toe In The Water” was written amidst the ending of a long marriage. Additional "sessions" recorded in New York and Austin included many well-known musicians such as GRAMMY-nominated American songwriter Jeff Franzel, prolific writer and producer Askold Buk, Sade's touring drummer, Steve Williams, Dave Byrne's tour bassist Paul Frasier, cellist Dave Eggar and Austin-based writer/producer David Rice.

“Looking Back. Moving Forward.” EP tracklist:

Santiago Sessions:

1. Hold Fast

2. Dip my Toe in Water

New York Sessions:

3. Blue isn’t Blue Anymore

4. Go Fly Away

Rice Sessions:

5. Infinite Love

6. Reach out to Me

Additional interviews from the Looking Back. Moving Forward. EP Release:

'Tuning In' with Kristine Mills
This week we are "Tuning In" with Houston-based vocalist/songwriter Kristine Mills.
Posted November 14, 2021, Fox7 Austin

Music in the Morning:
Musician Kristine Mills talks about a performance on November 4 at Parker Jazz Club in downtown Austin and shows off her newest video 'Blue Isn't Blue Anymore'.
Posted November 3, 2021, Fox7 Austin

Still Austin Whiskey Co Music Monday with Kristine Mills!
by We Are Austin
Monday, November 29th 2021, CBS Austin