Jazz Articles about Pete Mills

Pete Mills: For the Record

by Jack Bowers
October 14, 2025

On For the Record, tenor saxophonist Pete Mills and his quartet hit their swinging stride on “Bird Lives," a radiant salute to the peerless Charlie Parker that serves as the centerpiece of an otherwise consistently strong and engaging studio date that spans a wide-ranging area of contemporary post-bop jazz. The Canadian-born, Ohio-based Mills leads an ensemble that has been working together for more than a decade and whose interplay is near-telepathic. Organist John Eshelman and guitarist Tom ...

Pete Mills: Sweet Shadow

by Angelo Leonardi
October 30, 2014

Canadese di nascita ma statunitense d'adozione, Pete Mills pubblica il suo quarto disco confermando alcuni abituali partner, come il propulsivo batterista Matt Wilson o il chitarrista Pete McCann (entrambi in Art and Architecture del 2004). Siamo in pieno straight ahead jazz ma la fantasia e l'inventivo groove del leader trovano piena risposta nei partner portando a un risultato felice, variopinto e ricco di tensione. I riferimenti stilistici sono riconoscibili ma il ruolo di artisti come Mills, che attualizzano ...

Pete Mills: Sweet Shadow

by Dan McClenaghan
February 24, 2014

A lot of words have clicked out of the keyboards concerning the possible demise of the compact disc. Maybe CDs will suffer the extinction, maybe not. But one thing is sure: saxophonist Pete Mills' Sweet Shadow is an excellent argument for the survival of the species. On his fourth release as a leader, Mills has gathered a crack quintet to navigate labyrinths of ten of his modern-bop compositions, along with the Ellington/Strayhorn tune, “The Star-Crossed Lovers," Rolland Kirk's ...

Pete Mills: The Anatomy Of A Jazz Release

by Mark Corroto
January 28, 2014

I'm here to tell you that everything you thought about the making of a modern jazz records is wrong. The notion that there are talent agents selling concepts to record companies—wrong. That bands work on tunes, perfecting them for months before entering the studio—wrong. That jazz musicians make money from records—again, wrong. I had the first-hand experience of observing how saxophonist Pete Mills put together his latest recording Sweet Shadow (Cellar Live, 2014) from conception to release. If ...

Pete Mills: Fresh Spin

by Glenn Astarita
December 23, 2007

Tenor saxophonist Pete Mills doesn't chart new musical frontiers on this 2007 release. On the contrary, he just gets it done the good old fashion way via lots of gusto, oomph and up-tempo grooves, performed with his estimable band-mates. Mills regenerates the jazz organ combo vibe here, complete with soul/funk, swing and meaty underpinnings provided by the rock solid and fluidly moving rhythmic unit.

With Hammond B-3 ace Tony Monaco and guitarist Pete McCann onboard, the musical climate ...

Pete Mills: Art and Architecture

by Jerry D'Souza
December 7, 2004

If there is one defining aspect about Pete Mills, it is his ability to pave a path that is in direct communication with his listeners. Though he often shows a big, brawny disposition, he never overplays his hand. And while there is turmoil and a roiling heat as he takes the high post-bop road, he also showcases a softer side with ballads that shimmer and glow in the emotional nest he builds for them.

Mills plays surprise to ...

Pete Mills: Art and Architecture

by Jim Santella
September 11, 2004

Straight-ahead jazz combines pleasant memories with fresh energy when it's created by a unit such as Pete Mills' quintet. His lovely tenor saxophone tone soothes while it cascades around the room. The session remains peaceful and quiet throughout. Mills stretches out on up-tempo romps and lays back casually for lyrical ballads.

With the pared-down backing of just bass and drums, he delivers “In Walked Bud" with a bounce. Careful to keep the tempo in the moderate range, he ...