https://www.drjohnmillsmusic.com/home daily 1.0 2022-10-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1624744362304-E9RLJOQWN1B0LCLOFBQH/Image+0.jpg Home - Dr. John Mills is a Composer/ Arranger, Performer, Conductor/ Musical Director, and Educator from Austin, Texas. His new album is available now. https://www.drjohnmillsmusic.com/about daily 0.75 2021-07-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1624744706722-EBXBF72Z8RF864FZIHUI/Image+11.jpg Bio I’ve been playing flute for most of my gigging life, and it was the doorway to my first studio recording opportunities when I arrived in Austin as a 17-year old. At that time flute solos were heard not only in Latin Jazz, but on a number of Rock and Pop radio hit songs. I’ve played flute with countless bands over the years, notably for 40 years with Austin Music Hall of Fame honorees Beto and the Fairlanes. https://www.drjohnmillsmusic.com/composerarranger daily 0.75 2021-07-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1624745276160-35607GJBM7QOMALZ3CV1/88966483_122117426024881_2299016437869576192_n.jpg Composer/Arranger - Make it stand out John Mills Times Ten in action! We’ve been blowing down the doors with all-original material the first Wednesday of every month for over ten years at Austin’s renowned Elephant Room. That night we featured my former UT BSOM student Gabriel Santiago Project on the guitar! (Photograph by GRHook Photo (Thank you, Gary). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1626271127748-DCMH5DWNASJ3LIE5XP9T/41650182_1712416405494501_6205865539537993728_o+%281%29.jpg Composer/Arranger - Make it stand out Austin’s Elephant Room has seen many lifetimes of jazz performances — from some of the biggest names in the jazz world, to us local guys and gals throwin’ down 365 nights a year. This photo by Kim Yarborough shows me with Adrian Ruiz (tpt), Jon Blondell (tbn) and Kirk Covington (dr) on annual HAAM night, when every musician in every venue in town plays to benefit fellow musicians’ emergency health expenses. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1624754975913-A5AXZ0T6K3ESYZPLF6I6/83955158_106355690934388_762041276936749056_n.jpg Composer/Arranger - Make it stand out The Texas Horns have been backing blues greats at festivals and on recording sessions for the last 25 years. An absolute highlight was joining Texas guitar icon Jimmie Vaughan (with B-3 wizard Mike 'The Drifter' Flanigin) at London’s Royal Albert Hall, opening for the legendary Eric Clapton for three unforgettable nights. During our stay in London we also played a sold-out CD release of Jimmie’s Grammy-nominated “Baby, Please Come Home” and a live broadcast at the historic BBC studio London. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1624755038503-J1RIO4RFQM7R708WUZ7R/96828523_147392536830703_5378388580420812800_n.jpg Composer/Arranger - Make it stand out In January 2019 I was honored to be Musical Director for the Ruthie Foster Big Band concert at Austin’s Paramount Theatre. The concert was recorded on location by the marvelous Malcolm Harper and Reelsound Recording Co. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1624755487384-WQAYK7HQ8NQYLHAPB6CW/87501386_120536619516295_5562500140339560448_n.jpg Composer/Arranger - Make it stand out Conducting the Backyard Symphony, a 50-piece pops orchestra playing my own arrangements of rock, pop, and R&B classics, as well as originals I wrote expressly for this ensemble. This ensemble brought together the best of Austin’s classical musicians and recording session aces. One of the highlights was the recreation of George Martin’s iconic 23-bar orchestral glissando that concludes The Beatles’ “A Day in the Life.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1626270223548-O26HJSHDOZ61UQITB4R4/179382886_10224962321026479_2242385676973613595_n+%281%29.jpg Composer/Arranger - Make it stand out A memorable session for David Byrne’s “Grown Backwards” CD. My great friend and fellow composer/arranger Stephen Barber (right) lured David to Austin to record the arrangement overdubs and was kind enough to throw some woodwind performances and one funky horn chart my way. Photo by the proprietor of Congress House Studio, a former drummer for Carole King, Mark Hallman. https://www.drjohnmillsmusic.com/performer daily 0.75 2021-07-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1625165608814-X3HQQOHGH7ODRKAWH8GQ/94443369_140660560837234_8891820717885095936_n.jpg Performer - Make it stand out In action at last November’s Jazz at St. James Festival, performing with my longtime friend Carmen Bradford, who spent decades as the vocalist for The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra, and is unquestionably one of the greatest jazz singers on the planet! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1624750296995-MVXAAGBPDMMDZDUMA3N0/95478466_143335463903077_8912088767339167744_n.jpg Performer - Make it stand out On the outdoor stage at the now gone Threadgill’s venue. I treasure this shot, as I’m playing next to the inimitable saxophonist, the late Tony Campise, who was my very first sax teacher back in the Houston days. Tony played with Stan Kenton on the road, here in Austin with Beto and the Fairlanes, and was one of the most expressive and beloved Austin jazz musicians ever. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1624756185693-9HKTNWYUTIWB630Y5KBW/90523711_129006325335991_8596261740251971584_n.jpg Performer - Make it stand out With Jimmie Vaughan and the Tilt-a-Whirl Band (featuring The Texas Horns) minutes after playing a live show at the historic BBC studio London, England in June 2019. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1624756170909-MW5X5FSS5KADTG3WFLYO/101311908_152486946321262_3401562949666471936_n.jpg Performer - Make it stand out In action, somewhere in the blues world, with my mighty brethren of The Texas Horns: Al Gomez - Trumpet, and Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff - Tenor Sax and Ringleader. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1624756139867-IMCYGX1YY5PTRN9UAHNZ/Suggestion+%234.jpg Performer - Make it stand out Cover picture of our album! The Texas Horns: Al Gomez - Trumpet, and Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff - Tenor Sax and Ringleader. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1625165566784-W48L1C7QM6577GX1LG4R/90390777_128335978736359_5018921387071373312_n.jpg Performer - Make it stand out The Texas Horns’ February 2020 show at Antone's Home of the Blues, performing originals from our two first 2 CDs. Mike Keller is our new regular on guitar, and the powerhouse vocalist is our special guest from Canada, Matt Chaffey. We have backed Matt and his guitarist brother Curtis on our visits to Ottawa for many years. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1624756765743-G3YD7DZ2TA8CV0EXD42S/105491260_159330708970219_8993268182997713693_n.jpg Performer - Make it stand out This was the horn section one night with Beto and the Fairlanes circa 1978. Left to right you see Michael Mordecai - Trombone, Paul Ostermayer - Tenor Sax, JM - Soprano Sax, and Nick Phelps -Trumpet. The band, led by the inimitable composer/pianist/punster Robert “Beto” Skiles, was enshrined into the Austin Music Hall of Fame after more than 40 years on the scene, keeping it weird! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1624756749448-YEMPRELEJGAQMJXHOGT9/91366154_132746274961996_7627048051458179072_n.jpg Performer - Make it stand out I’m just a blur on the right end of this picture, but the memories of every opportunity I’ve had to perform with the great Christopher Cross are vivid in my mind. This performance took place in March 2017 at Austin’s The Continental Club in tribute to our friend, the renowned Texas music journalist Margaret Moser. https://www.drjohnmillsmusic.com/conductormusical-director daily 0.75 2021-07-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1624757246570-GMJQZQGRYMUK4G6RVJTB/96828523_147392536830703_5378388580420812800_n+%281%29.jpg Conductor/Musical Director - Make it stand out Conducts for Ruthie Foster Big Band Live at the Paramount Theater, the recording of which was nominated for the 2021 Grammys - Best Contemporary Blues https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1626270743951-SC0QRA4T24BMV7JW3M60/206794770_4259973830712455_4674778585571476277_n+%282%29.jpg Conductor/Musical Director - Make it stand out Usually playing the role of Musical Director puts me out in front of an ensemble, or on the other side of the studio glass. In the case of Times Ten, however, I do air traffic control from my Tenor Sax chair. Photo by Gary Hook, who also did great shots for the inside of our “Flying Blind” CD. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1625164229129-THCH7H64CNSMU9PLBVJE/March+2020+-+Image+3.jpg Conductor/Musical Director - Make it stand out Nelson Riddle Orchestra for Sinatra My Way Andrew Heller LP in Nashville https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1624752735289-PH4DHYEBD6JS0J5ICSH9/94152496_141210974115526_3568485578020225024_n.jpg Conductor/Musical Director - Make it stand out From the audience's point of view, on an unforgettable summer night conducting the premiere performance of the Backyard Symphony — a 50-piece pops orchestra. For this special occasion, I wrote arrangements of Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, The Beatles, Motown, and Gershwin classics, and served up a couple of original compositions for the orchestra besides. https://www.drjohnmillsmusic.com/educator daily 0.75 2021-07-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1624824852144-2J25F93EGLFRNF300VV2/92677285_137347187835238_5789290197573173248_n.jpg Educator - Make it stand out Rehearsing my new piece for string orchestra, The Skies of Christmas Day, with the Lake Travis High School Orchestra in December 2018. With this composition, I tried to evoke the spirit of Christmas musically, without relying on any quotations from traditional carols. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1624825325711-WEK24WW7QLWBR5B5N0HX/86730426_117916183111672_2069175918768685056_n.jpg Educator - Make it stand out It was a privilege to represent The University of Texas at Austin’s Butler School of Music when the Jazz Faculty was invited to be performer/educators at the 2014 Guatemala Jazz Festival. Through the IGA Instituto Guatemalteco Americano we played and taught in Guatemala City, Coban, and Antigua. Left to right, you see Prof. John Fremgen, Prof. Jeff Hellmer, yours truly, Prof. Wayne Salzmann II, and Dr. Adrian Ruiz, who was completing his grad studies at the time. At this special school in Coban, the young students immerse themselves in U.S. culture and the English language, so they were pretty surprised that I was determined to speak Spanish to them. https://www.drjohnmillsmusic.com/contact daily 0.75 2021-07-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1624826016782-LBWYEH5SJRGT157WF34F/56730584_10155802598077132_8025223186591252480_n.jpg Contact - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.drjohnmillsmusic.com/recordings daily 0.75 2021-07-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5efa69359cb3247f02ce3dd3/1624827483384-97N9PCEWPDVNO235EUOD/vtth01a.jpg Recordings - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.