Gerald Cleaver
Real Name:
Gerald Cleaver
Profile:
African-American jazz drummer from Detroit, Michigan, USA, born 4 May 1963. Husband of Jean Carla Rodea.
Gerald Cleaver is one of the New York jazz scene’s leading drummer/composers, who covers a wide range of stylistic ground. Having played with jazz masters Tommy Flanagan, Barry Harris and Ray Bryant as well as the leading lights of the AACM, Roscoe Mitchell, Muhal Richard Abrams, Wadada Leo Smith and Henry Threadgill, he is a product of many traditions within creative music.
Cleaver is best known for his associations with Roscoe Mitchell, Charles Gayle, Miroslav Vitous, Mario Pavone, William Parker, Michael Formanek, Joe Morris, Jeremy Pelt, Craig Taborn and Yaron Herman. He is also the leader of the bands Uncle June (a reflection on the personal and familial challenges of Black Americans during The Great Migration featuring TonyMalaby, Andrew Bishop, Mat Maneri, Craig Taborn and Drew Gress), Violet Hour (a tribute to Detroit featuring Jeremy Pelt, JD Allen, Andrew Bishop, Ben Waltzer and Chris Lightcap), Black Host (a noisy avant-garde group featuring Pascal Niggenkemper, Cooper-Moore, Darius Jones and Brandon Seabrook) and Farmers By Nature (a free-improvising collective co-led with bassist William Parker and pianist Craig Taborn).
Born 1963 and raised in Detroit, Cleaver is a product of the city’s rich music tradition. Inspired by his father, drummer John Cleaver, Jr. (whom Uncle June is named after), he began playing the drums at an early age. He later played violin in grade school and trumpet in junior high & high school. As a teenager he gained invaluable experience playing with Detroit jazz masters Ali Muhammad Jackson, Lamont Hamilton, Earl Van Riper, and Pancho Hagood. While attending the University of Michigan as a music education major he was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Study Grant, to study with drummer Victor Lewis. He graduated in 1992 and began teaching in Detroit where he worked with Rodney Whitaker, Marcus Belgrave, Donald Walden, and with visiting musicians Hank Jones, Kenny Burrell, Frank Foster, Cecil Bridgewater, Eddie Harris, Howard Johnson, Diana Krall and Don Byron.
In 1995 he accepted an appointment as assistant professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Michigan, and in 1998 also joined the jazz faculty at Michigan State University. He moved to New York in 2002 and has since focused exclusively on playing. Cleaver has played and recorded with a cornucopia of artists including Franck Amsallem, Tim Ries, Lotte Anker, Reggie Workman, Marilyn Crispell, Matt Shipp, Kevin Mahogany, Ralph Alessi, Jacky Terrasson, Jimmy Scott, Muhal Richard Abrams, Dave Douglas, Roy Nathanson, Tim Berne, Jeremy Pelt, Ellery Eskelin, Charles McPherson, David Torn, Terje Rypdal and Lou Reed.
His 2001 recording Adjust (Fresh Sound New Talent) was nominated in the Best Debut Recording category by the Jazz Journalists Association. Gerald Cleaver's Detroit (Fresh Sound New Talent), is an homage to his hometown and to the late, great Detroit drummers Roy Brooks, Lawrence Williams, George Goldsmith and Richard "Pistol" Allen. His latest recording with Uncle June, Be It As I See It (Fresh Sound New Talent) represents Cleaver’s most personal statement with regard to his familial past and his experience as an Black American.
Gerald Cleaver is one of the New York jazz scene’s leading drummer/composers, who covers a wide range of stylistic ground. Having played with jazz masters Tommy Flanagan, Barry Harris and Ray Bryant as well as the leading lights of the AACM, Roscoe Mitchell, Muhal Richard Abrams, Wadada Leo Smith and Henry Threadgill, he is a product of many traditions within creative music.
Cleaver is best known for his associations with Roscoe Mitchell, Charles Gayle, Miroslav Vitous, Mario Pavone, William Parker, Michael Formanek, Joe Morris, Jeremy Pelt, Craig Taborn and Yaron Herman. He is also the leader of the bands Uncle June (a reflection on the personal and familial challenges of Black Americans during The Great Migration featuring TonyMalaby, Andrew Bishop, Mat Maneri, Craig Taborn and Drew Gress), Violet Hour (a tribute to Detroit featuring Jeremy Pelt, JD Allen, Andrew Bishop, Ben Waltzer and Chris Lightcap), Black Host (a noisy avant-garde group featuring Pascal Niggenkemper, Cooper-Moore, Darius Jones and Brandon Seabrook) and Farmers By Nature (a free-improvising collective co-led with bassist William Parker and pianist Craig Taborn).
Born 1963 and raised in Detroit, Cleaver is a product of the city’s rich music tradition. Inspired by his father, drummer John Cleaver, Jr. (whom Uncle June is named after), he began playing the drums at an early age. He later played violin in grade school and trumpet in junior high & high school. As a teenager he gained invaluable experience playing with Detroit jazz masters Ali Muhammad Jackson, Lamont Hamilton, Earl Van Riper, and Pancho Hagood. While attending the University of Michigan as a music education major he was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Study Grant, to study with drummer Victor Lewis. He graduated in 1992 and began teaching in Detroit where he worked with Rodney Whitaker, Marcus Belgrave, Donald Walden, and with visiting musicians Hank Jones, Kenny Burrell, Frank Foster, Cecil Bridgewater, Eddie Harris, Howard Johnson, Diana Krall and Don Byron.
In 1995 he accepted an appointment as assistant professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Michigan, and in 1998 also joined the jazz faculty at Michigan State University. He moved to New York in 2002 and has since focused exclusively on playing. Cleaver has played and recorded with a cornucopia of artists including Franck Amsallem, Tim Ries, Lotte Anker, Reggie Workman, Marilyn Crispell, Matt Shipp, Kevin Mahogany, Ralph Alessi, Jacky Terrasson, Jimmy Scott, Muhal Richard Abrams, Dave Douglas, Roy Nathanson, Tim Berne, Jeremy Pelt, Ellery Eskelin, Charles McPherson, David Torn, Terje Rypdal and Lou Reed.
His 2001 recording Adjust (Fresh Sound New Talent) was nominated in the Best Debut Recording category by the Jazz Journalists Association. Gerald Cleaver's Detroit (Fresh Sound New Talent), is an homage to his hometown and to the late, great Detroit drummers Roy Brooks, Lawrence Williams, George Goldsmith and Richard "Pistol" Allen. His latest recording with Uncle June, Be It As I See It (Fresh Sound New Talent) represents Cleaver’s most personal statement with regard to his familial past and his experience as an Black American.
Sites:
In Groups:
Agnostic Revelations,
Aruán Ortiz Trio,
Basement Research,
Ben Waltzer Trio,
Benoît Delbecq 4,
Bill McHenry Quartet,
Black Host,
Brandon Lopez Trio,
Brandon Seabrook Trio,
Chris Lightcap Quartet,
Chris Lightcap's Bigmouth,
Craig Taborn Trio,
Daniel Levin Trio,
David Ades & Friends,
Declared Enemy,
Eric Revis Trio,
Farmers By Nature,
Ivo Perelman Quartet,
Jemeel Moondoc Tentet,
Joe Morris Quartet,
John Hébert Trio,
Joshua Abrams' Cloud Script,
Judson Trio,
López 4tet,
López Trio,
Mario Pavone Double Tenor Quintet,
Mario Pavone Orange Double Tenor,
Mat Maneri Quartet,
Matthew Shipp Quartet,
Matthew Shipp Quartet Declared Enemy,
Matthew Shipp Trio,
Matthew Shipp's New Orbit,
Miroslav Vitous Group,
Peter Madsen Trio,
Plymouth (3),
Raphaël Imbert Project,
Rob Brown Ensemble,
Roscoe Mitchell And The Note Factory,
Roscoe Mitchell Trio,
Samo Salamon NYC Quintet,
Samuel Blaser Quartet,
Simon Nabatov Quintet,
Steve Swell Quintet,
Subtle Degrees,
The Charles Gayle Trio,
The Pancho Hagood Quintet,
The Stephen Rush Quartet,
Tim Flood Quartet,
Tivoli Trio,
Tomas Fujiwara's Triple Double,
Tomasz Stanko New York Quartet,
Veil Of Names,
Wadada Leo Smith's Silver Orchestra,
William Parker Organ Quartet,
Yaron Herman Trio
Variations:
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Gerald Cleaver
Marketplace 1,505 For Sale
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Albums |
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FSNT 112 |
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Gerald Cleaver, Veil Of Names | Gerald Cleaver, Veil Of Names - Adjust (CD, Album) | Fresh Sound New Talent | FSNT 112 | Spain | 2001 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CD LR 441 |
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Lotte Anker / Craig Taborn / Gerald Cleaver | Lotte Anker / Craig Taborn / Gerald Cleaver - Triptych (CD, Album) | Leo Records | CD LR 441 | UK | 2005 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ENV0501 |
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Andrew Bishop Feat. Gerald Cleaver, Tim Flood | Andrew Bishop Feat. Gerald Cleaver, Tim Flood - Time & Imaginary Time (CD, Album) | Envoi Recordings | ENV0501 | US | 2006 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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FSNT 301 |
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Gerald Cleaver | Gerald Cleaver's Detroit (CD) | Fresh Sound New Talent | FSNT 301 | Spain | 2007 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ILK 162CD |
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Lotte Anker / Craig Taborn / Gerald Cleaver | Lotte Anker / Craig Taborn / Gerald Cleaver - Floating Islands (Album) | ILK Music | ILK 162CD | Denmark | 2009 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ILK 148CD |
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Lotte Anker / Craig Taborn / Gerald Cleaver | Lotte Anker / Craig Taborn / Gerald Cleaver - Live At The Loft (CD, Album) | ILK Music | ILK 148CD | Denmark | 2009 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ZZT090801 |
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Raphaël Imbert, Joe Martin (6), Gerald Cleaver | Raphaël Imbert, Joe Martin (6), Gerald Cleaver - N_Y Project (CD, Album) | Zig Zag Territoires | ZZT090801 | France | 2009 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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AUM053 |
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Gerald Cleaver / William Parker / Craig Taborn | Gerald Cleaver / William Parker / Craig Taborn - Farmers By Nature (CD, Album) | AUM Fidelity | AUM053 | US | 2009 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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RPR 12839 |
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Tivoli Trio - Frank Carlberg, John Hebert, Gerald Cleaver | Tivoli Trio - Frank Carlberg, John Hebert, Gerald Cleaver - Tivoli Trio (CD, Album) | Red Piano Records | RPR 12839 | US | 2010 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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FSNT 375 |
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Gerald Cleaver | Be It As I See It (CD) | Fresh Sound New Talent | FSNT 375 | Spain | 2010 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ROG-0029 |
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Taylor Ho Bynum - John Hébert* - Gerald Cleaver | Taylor Ho Bynum - John Hébert* - Gerald Cleaver - Book Of Three (CD, Album) | Rogueart | ROG-0029 | France | 2010 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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MW 837-2 |
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Rodrigo Amado / Taylor Ho Bynum / John Hébert* / Gerald Cleaver | Rodrigo Amado / Taylor Ho Bynum / John Hébert* / Gerald Cleaver - Searching For Adam (CD, Album) | Not Two Records | MW 837-2 | Poland | 2010 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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NBLP40 |
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Pascal Niggenkemper featuring Simon Nabatov, Gerald Cleaver | Pascal Niggenkemper featuring Simon Nabatov, Gerald Cleaver - Upcoming Hurricane (Album) | NoBusiness Records | NBLP40 | Lithuania | 2011 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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733 |
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Anders Nilsson (5) / Gerald Cleaver / Raoul Björkenheim | Anders Nilsson (5) / Gerald Cleaver / Raoul Björkenheim - Kalabalik (CD, Album) | DMG/ARC | 733 | US | 2012 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CD LR 630 |
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Ivo Perelman / Joe Morris / Gerald Cleaver | Ivo Perelman / Joe Morris / Gerald Cleaver - Family Ties (CD, Album) | Leo Records | CD LR 630 | UK | 2012 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CD LR 656 |
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Ivo Perelman, Joe Morris, Gerald Cleaver | Ivo Perelman, Joe Morris, Gerald Cleaver - Living Jelly (CD, Album) | Leo Records | CD LR 656 | UK | 2012 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CD LR 643 |
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Ivo Perelman / Matt Shipp* / Gerald Cleaver | Ivo Perelman / Matt Shipp* / Gerald Cleaver - The Foreign Legion (CD, Album) | Leo Records | CD LR 643 | UK | 2012 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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AUM073 |
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Joe Morris • William Parker • Gerald Cleaver | Joe Morris • William Parker • Gerald Cleaver - Altitude (CD, Album) | Aum Fidelity | AUM073 | US | 2012 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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RPR1012 |
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Taylor Ho Bynum, John Hébert*, Gerald Cleaver : Book Of Three | Taylor Ho Bynum, John Hébert*, Gerald Cleaver : Book Of Three - Continuum (CD, Album) | Relative Pitch Records | RPR1012 | US | 2013 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CD LR 683 |
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Ivo Perelman | Matthew Shipp | Whit Dickey | Gerald Cleaver | Ivo Perelman | Matthew Shipp | Whit Dickey | Gerald Cleaver - Enigma (CD, Album) | Leo Records | CD LR 683 | UK | 2013 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CD LR 668 |
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Perelman* | Shipp* | Parker* | Cleaver* | Perelman* | Shipp* | Parker* | Cleaver* - Serendipity (CD, Album) | Leo Records | CD LR 668 | UK | 2013 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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478 5476 |
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Giovanni Guidi / Gianluca Petrella / Louis Sclavis / Gerald Cleaver | Giovanni Guidi / Gianluca Petrella / Louis Sclavis / Gerald Cleaver - Ida Lupino (Album) | ECM Records, ECM Records | 478 5476 | 2016 | Sell This Version | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CD LR 773 |
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Ivo Perelman, Matthew Shipp, Gerald Cleaver | Ivo Perelman, Matthew Shipp, Gerald Cleaver - The Art Of The Improv Trio Volume 3 (CD, Album) | Leo Records | CD LR 773 | UK | 2016 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CD LR 775 |
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Ivo Perelman, Joe Morris, Gerald Cleaver | Ivo Perelman, Joe Morris, Gerald Cleaver - The Art Of The Improv Trio Volume 5 (CD, Album) | Leo Records | CD LR 775 | UK | 2016 | Sell This Version | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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CD LR 771 |
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Ivo Perelman, Karl Berger, Gerald Cleaver | Ivo Perelman, Karl Berger, Gerald Cleaver - The Art Of The Improv Trio Volume 1 (CD, Album) | Leo Records | CD LR 771 | UK | 2016 | Sell This Version |