PERFORMER
Jazz
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!
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.
There have been memorable opportunities to perform in concert with Maria Schneider, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow, Kenny Wheeler, Andy Narell, Doc Severinsen, Butch Miles, vocalists Carmen Bradford, Diane Schurr, and Allan Harris, and other jazz greats. With Tina Marsh’s CO2, he performed alongside such progressive forces as Matt Wilson, Hamiett Bluiett, Roscoe Mitchell, Billy Hart, Boris Koslov, and many more. He has performed with big bands ranging from the hard-swinging Eddie Durham Tribute Big Band, led by veteran Basie tenor man Doug Lawrence, to the cutting edge sounds of Gerry Gibbs’ Thrasher Big Band.
John was a key member of a string of Austin’s most progressive bands from the 70s to the present, including Starcrost, Beto y los Fairlanes, Dan Del Santo’s World Beat, Tina Marsh’s Creative Opportunity Orchestra (CO2), Graham Reynold’s Golden Arm Trio and now John Mills TIMES TEN.
Blues
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.
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.
Cover picture of our album! The Texas Horns: Al Gomez - Trumpet, and Mark "Kaz" Kazanoff - Tenor Sax and Ringleader.
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.
The Texas Horns, (Kaz Kazanoff - Tenor Sax, Al Gomez - Trumpet, with John on Baritone Sax) have performed for 20 years as the “house horn section” at the Ottawa Bluesfest, one of the largest festivals of its kind in North America, as well such festivals as:
Waterfront Blues Festival (Portland, OR)
King Biscuit Blues Festival (AR),
Doheny Blues Festival in Southern California,
Project Blues in Columbus, Ohio,
Luckenbach (TX) Blues Festival,
Blues, Brews and BBQ Festival (New Orleans)
Edmonton Blues Festival (Canada)
Gailsdorf Blues Festival (Germany)
It was a special honor for The Texas Horns to perform with iconic Texas Blues guitarist Jimmie Vaughan, or three nights at London’s Royal Hall in June 2019, opening for the legendary Eric Clapton.
The Texas Horns have performed live or in the studio with such blues icons as Buddy Guy, Bonnie Raitt, Dr. John, The Allman Brothers Band, Susan Tedeschi, Kim Wilson, Mavis Staples, and Marcia Ball, as well as notable up-and-comers as Vintage Trouble, Michael Franti, Monkey Junk, Colin Linden, and literally hundreds more.
Some of their recent acclaimed recordings include sessions for John McCain (Paris), Whitney Shay (San Diego), Jose Ramirez (Costa Rica), and Ina Forsten (Helsinki).
Pop
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!
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.
10 Austin City Limits PBS-TV Appearances:
Willie Nelson and Ray Benson - Swingin’ Over the Rainbow, W.C Clark and Friends, with Stevie Ray Vaughan, Manhattan Transfer, ACL Hall of Fame Show, with Nora Jones, Los Lobos, Boz Scaggs, Ruthie Foster et al, Miss Lavelle White, Patti Page, Los Lonely Boys, Sarah Hickman, Beto y los Fairlanes, Lyle Lovett.
Highlights of John’s performing career also include broadcasts and concerts with such artists as Christopher Cross, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Delbert McClinton, 10,000 Maniacs, Soul Brothers (Legends of Motown), Ani Di Franco, Delbert McClinton, Steve Miller, Tony Joe White, Willie Nelson Orchestra, Los Lonely Boys, opening for the Rolling Stones and a crowd of 50,000.