Kristine
Mills (vocals, guitar, percussion, songwriter); Klaus Mueller (keys,
arrangements, production); Itaiguara Brandao (acoustic guitar, 5-string
electric bass,); Portinho (drums);
Rafael
Barata (percussion, tracks 1, 8, 11).
(Review by Ann Alex).
It
must be Latin week at BSH – here is another CD of Latin jazz, mostly originals
from the pen of Mills, except for Jobim’s Meditation,
his Inutil Paisagem (If You Never Come to
Me) and Sting’s its Probably Me. Mills voice, a pleasant sweetish jaunty tone,
is hard to describe but easy to listen to.
The various Latin rhythms, such as
variations on the Samba, are delightfully tricky and the solos are mostly on
keys with a percussion background. No
particular lyrics stand out on these love songs but neither do any words jar
the senses. Journey Back Home, for instance, is a slowish love song with a
light touch; Meditation, slow, quiet
and heartfelt; Inutil Paisagem,
effectively done with guitar accompaniment. The final track, Burden of Choice, has an effective sound
of wood tapping percussion accompaniment that continues long after the singing
has stopped - a real Latin feel. Other titles include Hold Fast; Breathe Your Kiss; Last First Glance.
Mills
has surrounded herself with distinguished musicians: Mueller (Herbie Hancock);
Brandao ( Sidney Opera House and other prestigious venues); Porthino (played
with many jazz greats); and Barata began playing drums at the age of 5. This is Mills sixth album. A winner of various Houston Press Music
Awards, she performs regularly in New York and throughout the US.
Kristine Mills – BOSSAtoo,
available on the Inkwell Publishing label.
Ann Alex
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