Aaron Mills

Before bassist/singer/songwriter Aaron Mills hit his teenage years, his father (a jazz saxophonist who once played with Lionel Hampton) was managing an eight-piece family band, The Antiques, which played sold-out shows and became the premier backing band in Asheville, supporting touring soul acts like Sam & Dave and Joe Tex. Mills and the group performed regionally, often for a full weekend. Sometimes they'd return to Asheville just in time to drop the boys off Monday morning at the door of Asheville High School, where Mills played trumpet. He turned his energy toward the bass and took all his time to focus on playing. But his single-minded passion for playing prevented him from holding a regular job. 

  As Mills' Cameo engagements have become more sporadic, he's found more time to engage his musical passion through other avenues. He's returned to his jazz roots, performing every Sunday since mid-March at Durham's Broad Street Cafe with pianist Martin Eagle, guitarist Wayne Kee and drummer Eric Mrozkowski. The quartet has guest musicians sit in weekly—trumpeter Tom Browne lends his horn from time to time—and plan to continue performing there. Though Mills would love to take the Aaron Mills Project on the road, he is encouraged by local jazz fans. Mills also performs Thursday nights at Devine's Restaurant in Durham alongside PM Bulldozer guitarist Pat Madison and drummer Post Postlethwait as rock-influenced outfit On The Fly. He produced local bluesman Bobby Hinton's Liquor House Roots album in 2006 and is currently in the studio himself, working on his solo CD after so many sideman gigs. He still plays at church, too: two services—8 and 11 a.m.—at Durham's MJT Ministries, whenever he's off the road.