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Kristine Mills Turns Up The Heat With Bossanovafied
Jazz Inside Magazine

Kristine Mills shows the graceful lines of a merengue dancer and the shimmery intonations of a blues-soul singer on her latest CD, Bossanovafied. The album is tempered for nightclubs and features the Brazilian-pop stylizing of Paulo Midosi who plays the piano on the record and co-produced it with Mills. Also joining Mills on the recording are Haraldo Cazes on acoustic guitar and bass, Rubinho Moreira on drums, and Jose Carlos Bigorna on flute and tenor and alto saxophones. If you think of “Girl From Ipanema” meets Shakira's “Underneath Your Clothes” you will see what Mills has done giving vintage Latin music some modern zing.

Mills' music is like sipping from a glass of bourbon. Her singing goes down smoothly on the windpipe, and once settled, she tingles the senses with a touch that puts the listener into a dreamy state. Though she has the same effect as a potent drink, Kristine Mills is not toxic and her vocals cleanse the system rather than clog it. The lady can sing and shape melodies into ruminating vignettes that take the mind off of your troubles and carried into a world of complete peace.

The rumba swivels of “Burden Of Choice” entice a soft decadence, and the light samba strokes of “Inspiracao” are beautifully glossed in breathy acoustics. The bossa nova/soul complexion of “I Wish” is reminiscent of Corinne Bailey Rae's pensive voicing, and the delicate flutter of the flute in “That Was Yesterday” opens up to the warm tones of the piano keys. The bluesy vibe of “Sweet Sorrow” wraps the listener in sheets of silky instrumentation, and leaps into the calypso sway of “Fallin' In Love”. The piano keys produce a calming nightclub ambience in “You Are” that flirts with the blues kindled by the soft flickers of Cazes acoustic guitar.

Kristine Mills' songs are like poetry set to music. The flow is melodically strewn and has the potency of a desirable elixir. Where else can Mills go after achieving perfection? The winner of the 2009 Houston Press Music Awards for “Best Female Vocalist,” Kristine Mills is the complete package graced with beauty, sensitivity, and a magnetic voice. She makes every song have the effect of an aphrodisiac on the senses.

CD Reviews: Kristine Mills, “Bossanovafied”
Posted by: editoron Saturday, April 17, 2010 - 04:43 PM
By Edward Blanco

Kristine Mills is an award-winning jazz vocalist from the Houston area who indulges her passion for the bossa nova after an artful collaboration with Brazilian pianist Paulo Midosi in producing an impressive collection of original bossa-styled songs on “Bossanovafied,” her third vocal project. Recorded in Rio de Janeiro with an entirely Brazilian cast, the album follows her 2007 appearance with the Duke Ellington Orchestra at the Brazilian International Jazz Festival in Sao Paolo as well as her August 2009 three-city tour of the same festival with the Rio-based ensemble. This beautiful blond songbird seduces the listener with her inviting lyrical approach embracing each song with her innocent-like tender vocals that's anything but innocent-sultry and sassy-is more befitting.

With arrangements provided by Midosi and Haraldo Cazes-who performs on bass and electric guitar-Mills presents a delicious repertoire of eight bossa nova songs spiced up with percussions from Rubinho Moreira, and reeds from Jose Carlos Bigorna. The Brazilian flavor kicks off with gentle guitar picking from Cazes on the lovely opener “I Wish” and continues with the lively “That Was Yesterday” with Midosi settling in on the piano while Bigorna weighs in on the flute. Two of the standout pieces on the album are “Sasha's Lullaby” and the romantic sweet love ballad of “You Are,” where the singer's vocals are especially inviting in accompanying jazzy instrumentals from the band.

You will not find any mediocre tunes on this disc as Kristine Mills voices each song from the heart. With Bossanovafied, Mills succeeds in capturing a taste of Brazil in a wonderful set of soft bossa jazz with a measure of soul and vocal sensuality.

Year: 2010
Label: Self Produced
Artist Web: www.kristinemillsmusic.com

Reviewed By: Review in The Borderland (Musicwatch Column) UK
Kristine Mills - Bossanovafied

" How refreshing to find a singer performing in the Bossa Nova style and then find that she wrote all the songs herself - no delving into the Antonio Carlos Jobin songbook and what have you. Kristine Mills is that songwriter, and she also possesses a great set of pipes that are uniquely hers. Bossanovafied is a collection of eight of her songs and they all possess that smooth bossa nova shuffle beat and was actually recorded in Rio de Janeiro with a small band of Brazilian musicians - which, of course, is great for the authenticity of this style of music.

I must say that the musicians are very impressive in the way they fill these songs with their musicality - they are Paulo Midosi on piano, Haroldo Cazes on basses and acoustic guitar, Rubinho Moreira on drums and percussion, and finally Jose Carlos Bigorna on sax and flute. The eight songs are I Wish, That Was Yesterday, Sweet Sorrow, Sasha's Lullaby, Burden Of Choice, Fallin' In Love, You Are, and Inspiracao. I'm really hard pressed to choose one or two songs that are better than the rest, but they are all very listenable, and the lady herself has invested the album with her own personality. This is quite an impressive album, full of catchy songs and those irresistible Latin rhythms and some truly wonderful musicianship. One can't help feeling slightly short-changed with only eight tracks on the CD, but I didn't really want it to end so quickly. I think this is Ms Mills debut album and her calling card for live work, if so then I can't think of a more impressive statement of intent. More please and quickly?

Kristine Mills - Bosanovafied 4/3_O's

Oscar Groomes
O's Place Jazz Magazine
http://www.OsPlaceJazz.com

Notes:

Kristine sings eight Latin vocal tunes on top of Brazilian bossa nova beats. Her band includes co-producer, Paulo Midosi (p), Haroldo Cazes (b, g), Rubinho Moreira (d) and John Carlos Bigoma (sax). The music flows gently especially on "Sweet Sorrow" and "Sasha's Lullaby". The tempo accelerates on the bouncy beats of "Burden of Choice" keeping our mood bright. We found ourselves listening to the entire set a second time, enjoying every moment. Kristine's singing is annunciated well; her style is unique, simple and appealing. She had a hand in writing and producing the session, a very good Brazilian set.__-- _D.

REVIEW: Kristine Mills' “Bossanovafied”
Published March 3rd, 2010 at 10:43 pm in Music Reviews
Tagged with jazz, Kristine Mills

Upon first listen, Kristine Mills may sound like that comforting voice you may have heard on AM radio years ago or on an oldies station. With a bit of concentration, she may sound like that “unknown but curious as to who this is” vocalist you may have caught on NPR. Upon first look, you may think “well, is this jazz?” If you throw out perceptions, then you will hear Mills' voice as someone who can sing anything, from jazz to pop, country to rock, even a bit of folk, even though what you hear on this album are jazz songs.

Bossanovafied (self-released) is a 8-song album that I wish could have been 4 to 6 songs longer, but this only makes me anticipate more from her in the future. Mills has a grace about her that truly shines, in songs like “That Was Yesterday” and “Fallin' In Love” (both written by Mills), you hear someone who sounds so comfortable that it truly melts, as they say, like butter. She's a great jazz singer, no doubt, but what I also hear is someone who would not find it a problem to sing and dabble in other genres. What I hear are shades of Minnie Riperton, Clara Hill, or even a funky and spunky Blossom Dearie, and yet beyond the comparisons you hear someone who is very passionate about her singing and the craft of music and songwriting. In her case, she had a hand in each of the songs here, with two songs credited solely to her, so you're also hearing her music, in her space and time, and thus you're entering her world one song at a time. If today's pop singers (everyone from Demi Lovato to Selena Gomez bought this album, sat down with it, and truly listened, Mills could easily be a major influence amongst a younger generation. Whatever your age, she is sure to move you, in turn making you Bossanovafied.

www.smother.net 2010/02 one-liners-february-2010/
Kristine Mills - Bossanovafied

The untrained ear may not recognize bossa nova as anything different from contemporary or modern jazz but they're missing the piano styles, samba-influenced rhythm guitar, and underlying percussion inspired from the Brazilian artform. Don't miss out on what far too many Americans dismiss as “elevator music”, because talent like this transcends genres; Mills voice is divine.

Volume 33/Number 102_February 11, 2010_MIDWEST RECORD_CHRIS SPECTOR, Editor and Publisher_Copyright 2010 Midwest Record

KRISTINE MILLS MUSIC _KRISTNE MILLS/Bossanovafied:

Houston. The town is not generally known as a bossa nova capitol. Bossa nova, the 50th anniversary. Mills takes things into her own hands by recording a set of her own bossa novas in Houston without even so much as a Tom Jobim. Does it matter? Not really, and that's probably why she's the toast of the town. Powered by a kittenish voice with bite, this sassy singer knows her way around a song, especially when she's written it. A smooth jazz set with lyrics that aren't annoying, gratuitous lyrics “geared” for radio play, Mills has done some high profile work in Chicago along the way and if Houston isn't careful, we're going to claim her for our own. A delightful after hours date that's got the Brazilian vibe but has filtered it nicely through the here and now. Check it out.

Kristine Mills
By Olivia Flores Alvarez
houstonpress.com
published January 13, 2010

"Kristine Mills has been building up quite a reputation for herself over the last few years. In 2008, she released the jazz CD, Playing with the Big Boys – LIVE!, recorded with longtime Duke Ellington Orchestra/Ken Ward Trio members Barry Lee Hall Jr. and the late Rocky White. Big Boys earned her a slew of positive reviews and a Houston Press Music Awards Best Jazz Act nomination, and Mills followed last year with bossanovafied, recorded in Brazil with bossa nova master Paulo Midos. That one earned national media attention, three more slots on our Music Awards ballot – nominations for Best Jazz and Best Musician, and a win for Best Female Vocalist – and a Brazilian tour where she wowed the crowds." ...

Bossanovafied
Kristine Mills | Self Produced (2009
Published: December 27, 2009 )

By Raul d'Gama Rose
Editor www.allaboutjazz.com

When you hear great music, be prepared to be touched in your soul

"Brazil has a very special allure—not only for the Bacchanalian enjoyment of its Carnival in Rio, but for artists as well. Swinging musicians from all over North America have found the rhythmic seduction of the samba and the urbane swish and sway of bossa nova quite irresistible for decades. Lately, however, North American musicians appear to have discovered that seduction alone is not the prerequisite for making music in an authentic Brazilian idiom, even in the most popular one of all: the bossa nova. " Click here to read more...

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