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Jim Miller

I've been involved in the professional music business since 1970, but incredibly, still enjoy playing the drums anyway. I consider it very fortunate that my Indianapolis grade school had a full band program and indoor plumbing as well. At age 12 the "music nun" yanked me from piano lessons to play drums in the orchestra because no one else had exhibited any natural proclivity toward becoming the scapegoat in the school's traditional losses at district band contests. Falling in love with the drums immediately, I demonstrated my interest and gratitude by ripping off drumsticks from the school, using them at home to break the heads on a pair of Emenee bongos.

In order to protect the windowsills and tabletops, a drumset was soon provided and in no time, I was auditioning for my first band ("Do you know the beat to 'Wipe Out'?" "Yeah." "OK, you're in."). Starting with youth centers and community pools, moving up to after-game dances and drunken frat-house affairs, I paid my dues to reach the top in Naptown: VFW halls, Moose Lodges, mall openings, sets between films at drive-ins, and occasional Union jobs at the Women's Prison. I once found myself playing along with the jukebox at a country joint too cheap to hire a whole group; realizing something was missing, I decided to devote myself to bands inexplicably working on unique, original material no one wanted to hear.

By this point I was gaining notoriety as a drummer who would show up for the gig, but I needed more...so, after finally perceiving that further artistic growth could not occur in an area with such a dearth of seedy dives, I moved to Philadelphia.

Since relocating to the East Coast and slowly crystallizing the concepts for a book, I've greatly decreased my chances for fame and financial success by evolving into a Jazz Snob. In recent years my drums have taken me to many distant and foreign lands including Cancun (Mexico), Lisbon (Portugal), and Des Moines, Iowa. But seriously, I took snare drum lessons with Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra percussionist Jack Wagley, and studied informally at drum clinics with John Von Ohlen, J.C. Heard, Ed Shaughnessy, and Alan Dawson. I was leader/co-founder/chief mediator/drummer for the "electro-jazz" group REVERIE, which persevered in the face of adversity, apathy, and overwhelming indifference to release four collections of original material in the dozen or so years of its existence; as a sideman, I've backed Ira Sullivan / Johnny Coles / Larry Coryell / John Blake / Al Grey / Don Alias / Cecil Bridgewater / Steve Giordano / Victor Bailey / Anita O'Day / Frank Tiberi / Jef Lee Johnson / Steve Rudolph / Alex Foster / Bootsie Barnes / Sid Simmons / Onaje Alan Gumbs / "Doc" Gibbs / Reggie Workman / Uri Caine / Rebecca Parris / Mark Murphy / Ben Schachter / Tony Williams / Jeff Jarvis / Evelyn Simms / Eddie Green / Ron Thomas / Larry McKenna / Lynn Seaton / Bob Kindred / Gordon Brisker / Richie Cole / Charles Fambrough / Randy Brecker / Vanessa Rubin / Houston Person / Bob Mintzer / Buddy DeFranco / Clark Terry / James Moody / John Simon / Ted Rosenthal / Ray Mantilla / Joe Ford / Jean Carn / Dave Stryker / Dave Leonhardt / Eddie Gomez / Mark Kramer / Dave Liebman / Slide Hampton / Randy Johnston / Bobby Zankel / Michael Pedecin, Jr.

/ Clifford Adams / Steve Marcus (and many others).

I founded ENCOUNTER RECORDS in 1986 and DREAMBOX MEDIA in 1995, resulting in Philadelphia Magazine’s choice award for 1999 Best of Philly® Jazz Record Label; Produced Evelyn Simms' "On My Own," awarded BEST JAZZ RECORDING OF 1989 by the Philadelphia Music Foundation; currently working and recording with Tyrone Brown (former bassist for Max Roach), the Jim Ridl Trio, the Tom Lawton Quintet, "MONKadelphia” and the Denis DiBlasio Quartet / Quintet; two trips to Europe w/ pianist BRIAN TRAINOR; Adjunct Professor for Advanced Study of DrumSet on Jazz Faculty at Rowan University, Glassboro, N.J.; Active Member American Federation of Teachers, Local 2373; member JazzBridge.org advisory board; Awarded "Philadelphia Jazz Hero" for 2013 by the Jazz Journalists Association.
DREAMBOX MEDIA is an independent musicians' co-op dedicated to promoting the rich tradition of distinctively original and creative Philadelphia jazz artists performing a wide range of jazz styles.
Since Philadelphia Jazz has a rich tradition of breeding distinctively original and creative artists, Dreambox Media aims to supplement and provide an alternative to the mass market-driven policy decisions made by other record labels.
Releasing works by under-recorded veterans and deserving newcomers, Dreambox Media enables these recordings to reach a wider audience through its own website, NorthCountry Distributors, amazon.com, and other outlets. Dreambox artists have played major jazz festivals and clubs all over the world, and have conducted local community workshops for students of all ages in the spirit of spreading the message of America's uniquely indigenous artform, a truly democratic music.

Awards

Most recently, named 2013's "Jazz Hero" for Philadelphia by the Jazz Journalists Association (please see Bio above.)

Gear

I build my own drumsets, and use DREAM cymbals, Pro-Mark sticks, various mallets and brushes.

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Dreambox Media: The Philadelphia Jazz Label

by Mike Oppenheim
August 28, 2013

Any fan of the great American music that is jazz is surely aware that the art form's history depended on the convergence of geography, individual talents, and inspiration. Cities such as jny: New Orleans, jny: Kansas City, jny: Chicago, and New York are synonymous with particular styles of jazz. One often overlooked city is jny: Philadelphia, the birthplace and/or home to artists as diverse and influential as Pat Martino, Billie Holiday, Stan Getz, Lee Morgan, Dexter Gordon, Clifford Brown, Philly" ...

567

Take Five With...

Take Five With Jim Miller

by AAJ Staff
July 28, 2009

Meet Jim Miller:Administrator of ElectroJazz Music (BMI, 1980); founded Encounter Records in 1986 and Dreambox Media in 1995, resulting in Philadelphia Magazine's choice award for 1999 Best of Philly Jazz Record Label; Produced Evelyn Simms' On My Own, awarded Best Jazz Recording of 1989 by the Philadelphia Music Foundation.Currently working and recording with Tyrone Brown (former bassist for Max Roach), the Jim Ridl Trio, the Tom Lawton Quintet, MONKadelphia and the Denis DiBlasio Quartet / Quintet. ...

340

Album Review

Jim Miller: A Brief History of (Jim) Miller Time

Read "A Brief History of (Jim) Miller Time" reviewed by Victor L. Schermer

by Victor L. Schermer
November 28, 2008

Jim Miller is a consummate drummer, well-appreciated by fans and musicians alike. A versatile, creative individual, he is also a founder of Dreambox Media, a record label whose output, often featuring Philly musicians, has been prolific and outstanding. On that label, he has put out an occasional CD series of his own called (Jim) Miller Time, and this release provides a retrospective of his playing with varied groups from 1983 to 2005.The recording's title is copped from both ...

130

Album Review

Jim Miller Time: If It's Not One Thing...

Read "If It's Not One Thing..." reviewed by John Kelman

by John Kelman
January 6, 2004

Jim Miller is a drummer/composer who, with his Dreambox Media label, has helped to promote a number of fine artists from the Philadelphia area. It is with some interest, consequently, that he has finally released a title under his own name. With If It's Not One Thing' Miller has created an album that ranges from innocuous contemporary jazz to a pair of tracks that are questionable in concept and execution; but more about that later.Miller has assembled a ...

Crowdfunding Campaign

The Dreambox Concerts: An Ongoing Series In Honor Of Social-Justice Warrior And Drummer Jim Miller

Source: All About Jazz
September 24, 2019

Jazz for Justice I am Suzanne Cloud, a longtime jazz singer songwriter and Philly jazz advocate, and I'm partnering with drummer Sherrie Maricle, the leader of the DIVA Jazz Orchestra, and we are looking to fund The Dreambox Concerts at “Drummers," an intimate venue, that will feature monthly performances by Philadelphia area musicians who have a deep connection to social justice. Each concert (from October 2019 through May 2020) will spotlight a specific social issue in current American life that ...
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Video / DVD

Philadelphia Jazz Label Dreambox Media To Celebrate Thirtieth Anniversary With Final DVD "Flicks Sticks & Tones"

Source: All About Jazz
November 1, 2016

Dreambox Media will issue its last release by the end of 2016, coinciding with the Jazz label’s 30th anniversary. Originally Encounter Records solely to promote his band Reverie, founder and drummer Jim Miller considers 1986 the year the label officially started, as the September 1999 Jazz Times pointed out, “because it was then that vocalist / educator Suzanne Cloud…had similar frustrations and came to him to release her recording; she then began to spread the word to other musicians” (note: ...
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Event

Jim Miller & Friends At Rowan Planetarium On April 8

Source: Dennis Dougherty
March 31, 2015

The Rowan University College of Performing Arts Faculty Spotlight Series presents noted drummer Jim Miller and friends for a free concert event, which doubles as a live recording session, in the university’s Edelman Planetarium on Wednesday, April 8 at 8:00 p.m. The program includes six of Miller’s original compositions as part of an event that is being recorded for Miller's next CD. The musicians joining Miller include saxophonist E.J. Yellen (from Miller's days with the Philadelphia-area fusion unit REVERIE), renowned ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jim Miller

Source: Michael Ricci
June 13, 2014

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jim Miller

Source: Michael Ricci
June 13, 2013

Award / Grant

Jim Miller Honored as "Jazz Hero" on April 15th at LaRose Jazz Restaurant

Source: Michael Ricci
April 2, 2013

Jim Miller—Philadelphia jazz percussionist, composer, recording artist, music journalist, and jazz educator—will be named a “Jazz Hero” by the Jazz Journalists Association on April 15th. The ceremony honoring this jazz icon will take place at LaRose Supper Club, 5531 Germantown Avenue in Philadelphia, during an evening’s performance by saxophonist Tony Williams, from 6 to 9 p.m. Information: 215-517-8337. Each year, the Jazz Journalists Association gives its “Jazz Hero” awards to those whose “exemplary work" keeps Jazz alive and well in ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jim Miller

Source: Michael Ricci
June 13, 2012

Event

Jazz Bridge presents Miller Time special Jazz Appreciation Month celebration @ the Collingswood Community Center Thurs. April 5th!

Source: Jim Miller
March 15, 2012

Appearing at the Collingswood Community Center, 30 E. Collings Ave. in Collingswood, NJ (08108) on Thursday, April 5th will be a special edition of Miller Time to celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month, featuring saxophonist Mike Pracher, guitarist Brian Betz, organist Chris Simonini and drummer Jim Miller. One Show: 7:30-9 p.m. Admission: $10/$5 for students. No advance sales. Free Refreshments! For further info, please call 856-858-8914. Jazz Bridge, a 501C3 nonprofit that assists our local jazz and blues musicians in crisis, is ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jim Miller

Source:
June 13, 2011

All About Jazz is celebrating Jim Miller's birthday today!

I\'ve been involved in the professional music business since 1970, but incredibly, still enjoy playing the drums anyway. I consider it very fortunate that my Indianapolis grade school had a full band program and indoor plumbing as well...I\'ve been involved in the professional music business since 1970, but incredibly, still enjoy playing the drums anyway. I consider it very fortunate that my Indianapolis grade school had a full band program and ...
read more

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Jim Miller

Source: Michael Ricci
June 13, 2010

All About Jazz is celebrating Jim Miller's birthday today!

JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE DAY Jim Miller

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"...the element of surprise" in a set that is "musically inspiring, uncompromising, observant and technically impressive..." (jazzreview.com)
"With his characteristic flexibility, one that makes it sometime seem as if he's physically steering the band around the turns of whatever tune is rolling past" (-Cadence)
..."the orchestrational drummer of choice" (-Jazz Player magazine)
"...unbelievably difficult to listen to..." (-AllAbout Jazz.com)