Pete Mills - This Is Now (2026)

Tenor saxist Pete Mills blows with a modern, Wayne Shorter’d vibe on this creative collection of jazz originals plus one. He brings together a flexible team Kenny Banks JR/p, Pete McCann/g, Martin Wind/b and Matt Wilson/dr for the wide range of ideas. Mills’ delivery is warm and strong on the upbeat title tune, lovely wafting over the Poinciana pulse formed by Wilson and Wind on “Sunset “STX” while cozy and lyrical for “Daddies”. McCann adds lots to the equation as well, bringing in some edgy ideas as Mills rocks out on “Boubar”, asserts himself on’ Exit Strategy” and veers around Wind’s lopoing line on “Don’t Stomp on My Dreams”. Mills all throughout is strong and confident, sounding best when in the Spartan atmosphere of Wilson’s brushes for Billy Strayhorn’s “UMMG” and hip as all get out on a duo with the melodic Banks for a nifty bopper of “Bird Lives”. Now’s the time.~ By George W. Harris