Jake Cinninger
New Milford, CT- Aug 1-6 2010: Jam Band Rock
Born in Niles, MI on the banks of the St. Joseph River in 1975, Jake Cinninger entered the world in a blizzard. At age 3, he acquired his first drum kit and honed his timekeeping with his parents’ killer record collection. A few years later, he added piano and saxophone to his growing list of instruments. When Jake turned 8, he began studying drums with renowned jazz instructor Eddie Knight in South Bend, IN. For the next four years, Jake drums were number one in his life, and at age 12, he tried out for the band Visions, a popular local metal band. The guitarist of Visions, Gerry Wendt, inspired Jake with his style of playing (ala Randy Rhoads, Eddie Van Halen, and Uli Roth) so much that he picked up the guitar as another instrument. At the same time he began playing electric guitar, he started studying classical guitar with Gerry Zubko, who still teaches in Roseland, IN. At 14, Jake began playing in a number of local bands so that he could build a studio in his backyard. He and his dad renovated a former horse stable into a soundproofed studio room in their backyard. Music could now be made 24 hours a day! Jake’s Yamaha MT-100 4 track recording unit was his first venture into the art of recording his ideas.
Over the next ten years, Jake logged thousands of hours to tape as he worked on songwriting and locked in drums, bass, guitar, keyboards and after balls dropped, vocals.
At the age of 16, Jake attended the National Guitar Workshop and at this time his focus was solely on mastering the guitar. This laid the foundation for making guitar playing a profession. Playing a gig at the Million Dollar Saloon in South Bend in 1995, Jake was approached by representatives from the country band Avalanche. They invited Jake to be the guitarist in the band, destined for Nashville notoriety. The group resided in South Bend, and wrote as many songs as possible for their debut album over the course of the next three years. MCA and Sony heard the songs and Avalanche was offered a contract as highly valued up and coming act. Just as the band was about to sign the contract, a hard luck turn-of-events left the band without the lead vocalist, and the contract offer was rescinded. Jake, feeling burned by the major label, put his focus on music without boundaries in his own group, Ali Baba’s Tahini, with Karl Engelmann and Steve Krojoniewski. The progressive rock tendencies of the group redefined Jake’s musical course.
Another local band, Umphrey’s McGee, was playing clubs and occasionally opening for Ali Baba’s around the area. Ali Baba’s Tahini toured and put out two albums from 1997 – 2000, but eventually dissolved, leaving Jake wondering what his next musical turn would be. When word of this reached the guys in Umphrey’s McGee, everyone agreed that inviting Jake to be a part of the band was a brilliant move, and the band of five became six. Since then Jake has made his name as a songwriter, lead guitarist, improvisational guitarist, soloist and vocalist. Part progressive rock shredder, part melodic line weaver and part country picker, Jake’s style has evolved into something that is completely his own. The dual guitar attack of Umphrey’s McGee has also given Jake and Brendan many opportunities to work out complex arrangements, many of which have been identified as the central sound of Umphrey’s McGee. Along the way, Jake has also collaborated with Chick Corea, Dweezil Zappa, Buddy Guy and Huey Lewis to name a few. As you read this, he is undoubtedly writing, recording or rocking somewhere in this world.
Jake is extremely excited to return to the National Guitar workshop, where as a student he soaked up the knowledge that he still applies today.
For more info check out www.umphreys.com
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