Local jazz favorite joins members of the Duke Ellington orchestra to singout for charity

Kristine Mills’ March Concerts at Wade Wilson Art bring together music and art to benefit Texas Children’s Hospital Craniofacial Research Fund, Houston Center for Photography

(Houston, March 6, 2008) – Wade Wilson Art is pleased to announce its second anniversary celebration on the evenings of Wednesday, March 26 and Thursday, March 27 from 7 to 9:30 p.m. The celebration will feature seated concerts by Houston’s own renowned jazz vocalist Kristine Mills, along with jazz masters Tommy "TJ" James (pianist) and Barry Lee Hall, Jr., (arranger, conductor and trumpeter), both of the acclaimed Duke Ellington Orchestra. The concerts will take place at the gallery which is located at 4411 Montrose Blvd., Suite 200. 

Proceeds from both event tickets and CD sales will benefit Texas Children’s Hospital Craniofacial Research Fund for Children with Facial Deformities as well as the Houston Center for Photography. Individual tickets are $100 and VIP packages for two are $500 and can be purchased by filling out a purchase form and faxing it to 713.521.2975.  Download the purchase form (PDF)

“These concerts are in honor of a musical mentor and dear friend who suffered severe facial deformity due to cancer and the Houston doctor who gave him a second chance,” said Mills about her inspiration behind the benefit. 

“We wanted to do something special on our second anniversary and this cause seemed to fit the bill,” said Wade Wilson, gallery director.  “We’d like our patrons to share in a cause that is not only a celebration of our gallery’s second year, but a celebration of life.”

The concerts will be set to the backdrop of an exhibition of photography by Jennah Ward and Nina Zurier in conjunction with FOTOFEST2008, providing an intimate musical experience for art and music lovers alike. 

Event sponsors include: Wade Wilson Art, Tart Café, Forshey Piano, Barefoot Wines and Kristine Mills MUSIC.

ABOUT WADE WILSON ART:

Founded in March 2005, Wade Wilson Art brings a fresh voice to the Houston visual arts community by presenting artists who primarily have not been seen in Houston, but whose work reflects current movements in international art circles. The Gallery, owned by Gregg Tyson and siblings Wade Wilson and Caroline Wilson Tyson, showcases painters and sculptors whose work explores use of light and color including Joseph Marioni, Jill Moser, Catherine Lee, Mark Williams, Virgil Grotfeldt and Steve Murphy.  Wade Wilson ART is located at 4411 Montrose Blvd, Suite 200, Houston, TX 77006. Wade Wilson Art is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 11 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. For more information about the gallery please visit www.wadewilsonart.com

ABOUT KRISTINE MILLS:

Kristine Mills is a "bold, blonde entertainer outta the old school" and native Houstonian. She has been impressing audiences with her varied repertoire, vocal prowess and command of various languages ever since she launched her professional jazz vocalist career in the early 90’s.  Last year, Kristine was named “Hottest Female Jazz Vocalist” on Houston Modern Luxury’s Lust List and was the featured musician in “The Loop Music” Houston Modern Luxury Magazine, July 2007.  For more information please visit

www.kristinemillsmusic.com

ABOUT TEXAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH FUND:

The purpose of Texas Children’s Hospital Craniofacial Research Fund is to provide funds in order to perform laboratory and clinical research in the area of pediatric plastic and/or craniofacial surgery. These services are provided by Texas Children’s Plastic Surgery Center. Texas Children’s Plastic Surgery Center provides craniofacial surgery, the second most common procedure performed at Texas Children’s Plastic Surgery Center. Patients who receive this kind of surgery benefit so greatly because it restores form and function to the child’s life. Craniofacial abnormalities may alter children’s primary bonding relationships, possibly causing later emotional, behavioral and social problems. Recent research shows that the importance of face-to-face communication in early childhood calls for the early evaluation and repair of craniofacial problems.