Pete Mills

By Bob PROTZMAN

Tenor saxophonist/composer/educator Pete Mills, a professional jazz musician for some 20 years, received two distinctly different educations.

The fast-rising jazzman from Columbus, OH got some great lessons from his dad Ernie, followed by formal training at renowned institutions, Rochester, NY's Eastman School of Music, and North Texas University in Denton.

Arguably, the first was more important, or at least influential. "My dad, who died last year, was an inspiration, a very important part of what I do and what I love,'' says Mills.

While growing up in his native Toronto, and beginning around age nine, Mills became his father's jazz companion. "He loved the music, went to all the clubs, took lots of pictures, got autographs, the whole thing. He dragged me along,'' says Mills with a chuckle. Mills' younger sister, by the way, went to baseball games with dad.

Mills mentions proudly that his father was at the legendary 1953 concert featuring Charlie "Bird'' Parker and Dizzy Gillespie at Toronto's Massey Hall. (Available on a double LP titled "The Greatest Jazz Concert Ever'' or CD on "Jazz at Massey Hall,'' both on Prestige).

"He even got Bird's autograph. It's in red pencil and on three different lines says, 'I remain; Charles Parker; Sax.' Yes, I still have it.''

Another remnant of Mills' father's influence can be seen on the cover of "Fresh Spin'' in a pile of albums (LPs) from dad's--and now Pete's--extensive collection.

Mills, 41, clearly is fast gaining a reputation as one of today's finest younger tenor players and composers. As with nearly all his recordings so far, his newest, "Fresh Spin'' (Chicken Coupe Records), is getting high praise from many critics, as well as a lot of airplay.

"I was pretty stoked about my first Down Beat review,'' Mills says, referring to a ***1/2 stars (out of *****) rating from the internationally distributed magazine.

Another major jazz mag, JazzTimes, which does not assign ratings, also gave "Fresh Spin'' a positive review, calling Mills' playing "virtuosic'' and "gorgeous.'' As for getting his music heard, Mills says, "My records always have received great airplay.''

Mills will be the opening artist Saturday night for the resumption of monthly performances by nationally known jazz musicians at Erie's Breeze Steakhouse and Grille, formerly the Papermoon.

He's making the trip despite being a busy guy at home-recording, playing a nine-week season with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, leading his quartet and a jam session every Tuesday night at Columbus's Park Street Tavern, conducting clinics at high schools and colleges/universities, and teaching jazz studies at Denison University.

His writing/playing approach? "I want to do stuff that's a little bit in the tradition, but with a twist, music that's fun to play and listen to. Jazz is beautiful and important music, and when it's presented in an open and engaging way, I think people will get it. I hope even non-jazz heads will listen and say, wow, I like that.''

Tenor saxophonist Pete Mills, with Joe Dorris, drums; Frank Singer, guitar/piano; Tony Stefanelli, fretless bass; Nick "Tito'' Ronzitti, percussion; 8-11 p.m. Saturday, Breeze Steakhouse & Grille, 1325 State St., 455-7766; $10

Bob Protzman has written about jazz for five decades and hosts "Everything Jazz," 9 to midnight Sundays on WQLN-FM 91.3. You can reach Bob at protz@verizon.net or jazzhosts@wqln.org.

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