Jazz vocalist Kristine Mylls combines sexy vocals with an undeniable stage presence that has captivated audiences across the country. Drawing on her experience in performing a variety of musical genres, she brings elements from each into her stunning show. With the release of her debut solo album, entitled "Mylls to Go", this unique jazz artist will continue to grow her fan base and pursue radio air play with her interpretation of hits like, "Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love" and "One Fine Day."
Mylls grew up in Washington D.C, and began singing when she was 10 years old. As she quickly moved through the choral ranks of her grade and high school choirs, she realized her tremendous singing voice would become her life's dream.
As a college student at George Mason University she studied classical music, but performed in a variety of genres. Mylls sang with several groups at once, including a vocal jazz group, university choir, and a rock band called "Second Sun".
After graduating from George Mason, Mylls performed locally in various bars and clubs for a period of time, never feeling quite at home in the lackluster environment D.C. provided her and other musicians. On a whim, she and some friends moved to Nashville, where her love and passion for her dream was accepted and encouraged.
Mylls began attending the acclaimed Nashville Jazz Workshop, where she began to make contacts and ultimately got her first local gig at Bean Central, a coffee shop on Nashville's historical West End. From this performance, Mylls recorded a live cd-a four-song demo which she used to land gigs in numerous respected venues such as Café 123, F. Scott's, The Park Café, The Trace, Belle Meade Country Club, The Hermitage Hotel, Opryland Hotel and The Factory at Franklin. In addition, Mylls has performed for several annual charity events including the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's "Man & Woman of the Year" event, and "Magnificent Women", a benefit for the Magdalene House.
Along with singing as a solo artist, Mylls is one of the lead vocalists in a big band called "Radio Daze", which is fronted by a 4-part harmony vocal quartet. The band has played in various festivals and venues throughout the South, and numerous charity events.
Mylls says along with The Beatles, jazz legends Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughn have been influential to her as a musician, though in striving to be unique to her own style, she admits she doesn't often frequent other local jazz performers' gigs.
Her recent album, "Mylls to Go", releases Fall 2003, and features musicians, Roger Spencer (bass; Rosemary Clooney, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Buddy DeFranco), Lori Mechem (piano; Dizzy Gillespie, Ann Jillian, Edie Gorme and the McGuire Sisters), Jim White (drums) Denis Solee (saxophone), Michael Fair (tumpet and fugel horn), and Pete Huttlinger (guitar).
"Jazz is for people who really love jazz-jazz musicians usually aren't doing it for the money, they're doing it for the love of the music. It's the purity of jazz that I love."
-Kristine Mylls
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