Local legend, the JiMiller Band, hits the Winchester Tavern for the release of its latest CD.

‘In trance it,’ latest JiMiller Band CD, debuts in Lakewood
By Charles Cassady
Insights
Published Dec. 13, 2006

Friday night brings a CD release party to the Winchester Tavern and Music Hall in Lakewood — the release of a CD that was partially recorded live at the Winchester. This means you can go itself…Far out, man!

The group itself is pretty far out, at least in spirit and the breadth of its music. It’s the JiMiller Band, one of the stalwarts upholding the jam-band tradition that the Grateful Dead trailblazed, and whose tie-died iconography and attitude has been carried onward by Phish, The String Cheese Incident, Ekoostik Hookah and Leftover Salmon. 

And, for that matter, Cleveland’s own Oroboros. Jim Miller was longtime front man and business manager for the legendary Northeast Ohio group, whose durable play schedule included opening for Black Uhuru, Santana and Rusted Root. Of Oroboros, Miller said “We were the first band in the Midwest to do the jam-band and the Grateful Dead kind of a thing.”

The JiMiller Band itself has opened for the likes of Phish, Merle Saunders, Steve Miller, Government Mule, Leftover Salmon, Dark Star Orchestra, Dickey Betts, and — on several occasions — Bruce Hornsby. The JiMiller Band was part of the 1994 H.O.R.D.E. Festival, the 1996 Further Festival (with members of the Grateful Dead, Los Lobos and Hot Tuna).

Now Miller and his band are truckin’ in at the Winchester on behalf of “In Trance It,” the new double CD, half of which was recorded in the converted bowling alley that is the venue, the other half being studio material.

“This is the first time I’ve done a studio album since 1990, with Oroboros,” said Miller. For those keeping score “In Trance It” marks The JiMiller Band’s fourth recording, closing in the total of six that Miller made with Oroboros.

Don’t think that just because The JiMiller Band gets lumped into the jam-band genre that “In Trance It” and the Winchester show will be another night of the living Dead. The repertoire on the CD ranges Cajun-folk to bluegrass influence to the New Orleans sound. “A lot of  ‘straight rockers.’ A lot of ROCKERS, I should say,” said Miller.

The recording also includes a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Tennessee Dead,” the Beatles’ “Going Down the Road” in what Miller calls an up-tempo Woody Guthrie style, and a version of Miller’s “Weather the Storm” over which the singer-songwriter is in discussion with ClearChannel for airing on satellite radio.

The current band lineup is Miller, of Cleveland Heights, on guitar and mandolin; Brett Miller, of Lakewood, on bass; Matt Harmon, of South Euclid, of guitar and dobro; Steve Scheff, of Garfield Heights, on keyboards; and Dan Carter, of Akron, on drums. Miller said that Carter, who thought up the CD’s name, is related to the illustrious Carter family of country-and-western and bluegrass-music royalty.

Normally the JiMiller Band played east side venues, and such as the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights. Miller has performed his jams and Grateful Dead tributes at gatherings such as the Lazy Daisy Festival at Nelson Ledges State Park and the Kent Stage in Kent. When he brought his Thanksgiving all-Dead night to the Winchester in Lakewood a few years ago, a new tradition was born. “We loooove the Winchester. It is by far the best place to see a live show in the city.” Now every year, the night before Thanksgiving at the Winchester is Jim Miller and his band playing Grateful Dead all night long.

As is a jam-band tradition, audience audio taping will be permitted at the CD party. “Absolutely, always. We’re kind to our tapers.” And, if you’re unable to come to this one – or can’t get enough – The JiMiller Band will be holding a CD release show and party for the Akron-Summit County area on Jan.12 at Mocha Maiden.

Other CD-tie in shows happen all up and down the state and in Erie, Penn. Those of you who want to follow the JiMiller Band around in their travels (imagine that) should bookmark the Web site, www.jimiller.com.

Otherwise, the Winchester can be found at 12112 Madison Ave. in Lakewood. This is an all-ages show, and it begins Friday at 9 p.m. Admission is $7. For more information, call the club at (216) 226-5681.