Music
Press
Victoria songwriters and performers Mowbray and Mills deliver a cool, uptown collection of four new and original Christmas Songs for the season. Embracing their jazz muses, Mowbray and Mills deliver sparkle and sentiment without the sap. They've brought in some talented jazz musicians to warm the airwaves: Jan Stirling on piano, Steve Sutton on bass, and Mike Wall on tenor sax. - Jed Sutherland
After digging Paul Mowbray's pastoral acoustic pluckings on his Prairie Stop disc, I was excited to hear his release with violinist Tracy Mills - and I was far from disappointed. Starting with "Collaboration," as soon as the juxtaposition lyrics start, you'll realize you've found a song that makes you want to hug the ones you love.
Mowbray and Mills' voices blend quite gorgeously, as do their delicate guitar and violin interweavings. The duo hit on various rootsy areas and they do them all well, be it the dusky blues of "Restless Moon" or the hymnal haunt of "The Cathedral". All in all, this is one sweet mellow listen, ripe for late nights or early mornings. - Monday Magazine
"... so impressed by your talent, charisma, enthusiasm and fantastic musicianship. Every song was a treat. I myself particularly loved the bluesy violin with those high-register, near-the-top-of-the-neck "hyper-screams"—weird! And really accomplished, cool guitar stylings all the way through the set too. Great interplay; it added a really fun and unique dimension to the show. The drums were super-detailed and studied, and so inventive....And the bass player added a fun kind of "rock star" element to the back line. Great combination of personalities." Bill L., Duncan, BC - Bill L. - Duncan, BC
Mowbray and Mills' All Wrapped Up for Christmas" is a charming Christmas tune. It conjures up images of snow-covered streets, wrapped presents and a wood fire. Waiting for someone special to arrive.
It has all the elements I love: jazzy with a fantastic piano and bass. Clever lyrics, intimately sung.
- Jed Sutherland, Bullfrog Music
Musically, you can easily get the beer-and-chips-type tunes; the kind that someone whips off in the back of the cab on the way to the airport. An equally disinterested performer then belts out the songs in the current, approved style, aided by a producer with all the style and imagination of a garbage man. The real work begins when it comes to marketing and promotion; convincing people that this same-old-same-old is the great-new-thing.
Or…you can get the single malt scotch or fine wine music. Songs lovingly crafted and obsessively refined. Songs that are performed and recorded in such a way as to let the lyrics, the emotions and the melodies shine forth.
This debut CD GAME by Mowbray and Mills is something you can drink with your ears. There are only 10 songs and 2 performers here, but this is a case where less is more. Drink in the sound.
- BullFrogMusic.com
Discography
RADIO PLAY - Jan 2010
FEED THE SOUL compilation - June 2009
CHRISTMAS SONGS - Dec 2008
GAME - Oct 2007
Photos
Bio
Together since 2006, Paul Mowbray (guitar/vocals) and Tracy Mills (violin/guitar/vocals) have performed and co-written their acoustic originals drawing from lyric-based folk, timeless blues, Pac-Rim funk, and classical sensibilities. They take the stage as an intimate duo, or turn up the groove with Stephen Ogden (bass) and Kelby MacNayr (drums/percussion).
In 2007 they released their debut CD GAME featuring 10 original songs with violin, guitar and vocals. This was followed up in Nov 2008 with a Christmas EP with added piano and bass. In early 2010 they put out RADIOPLAY - remixes of some GAME tracks plus new originals.
Mowbray and Mills songs have been featured on: CBC Victoria and Vancouver (North by Northwest, On the Coast, BC Almanac), Village 900, CFUV Victoria, CKLX Planete Jazz Du Montreal, Radio Paradise and others.)
In October 2009, they launched the Victoria Regional Writers Group for the Songwriters Association of Canada. Their group, of over 40 members, meets monthly to hone their songwriting chops, and puts on a yearly Songwriters Showcase for charity.
Paul Mowbray is a prolific and gifted songwriter, teacher, composer, and guitarist. After growing up, teaching, and studying music in Saskatoon, Paul moved to BC’s west coast. Paul's workshops and private lessons are held in high esteem. As is his reputation as a dedicated and inspiring performer and teacher. Paul was artistic director of the Salt Spring Island Jazz Festival in 2010 and is a former board member of the Salt Spring Folk Club. Paul has a B.A. with music major, lives in Victoria, and continues to compose, perform, and teach.
Tracy Mills grew up in Alberta on classical Suzuki Violin. Later, she climbed over the rigid bars of orchestral music to developed her improvisational and songwriting skills playing pop/blues/rock. Tracy’s classical background fuses with her love of popular music to give the guitar/violin sound that defines much of the Mowbray and Mills material. Her vocal influences tend to blues/jazz stylings and her strong improvisational abilities lead to much excitement live.
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