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Gerald Cleaver

Drummer Gerald Cleaver was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, and is a product of the rich music tradition found there and also in his home. Inspired by his father, John Cleaver, also a drummer, he began playing the drums at an early age. He also played violin in elementary school and switched to trumpet during junior high and high school. While in his teens, he gained early working experience with Ali Muhammad Jackson, Lamont Hamilton, Earl Van Riper, and Pancho Hagood and later with Marcus Belgrave, Donald Walden, Rodney Whitaker, A. Spencer Barefield and Wendell Harrison. Cleaver earned a B.A. in music education from the University of Michigan. During his studies he was awarded an National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Study Fellowship to study with drummer Victor Lewis. After graduating he began teaching in Detroit, and later joined the jazz faculty at the University of Michigan and Michigan State University. He relocated to New York in 2002.

Cleaver has worked with Roscoe Mitchell, Henry Threadgill, Jacky Terrasson, Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan, Mario Pavone, Charles Gayle, Matthew Shipp, Reggie Workman, Joe Morris, Craig Taborn, Ralph Alessi, Eddie Harris, and Miroslav Vitous, among others. In 2002 "Adjust", recorded for the Spanish label Fresh Sound New Talent, was nominated in the Best Debut Recording category.

Photo Credit
Claudio Casanova

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15
Album Review

East Axis: No Subject

Read "No Subject" reviewed by Karl Ackermann


Pianist Matthew Shipp, bassist Kevin Ray, and drummer Gerald Cleaver return for No Subject, the sophomore release from the quartet East Axis. One point on the axis has changed with the journeyman, multi-reedist Scott Robinson replacing saxophonist Allen Lowe. Robinson is a veteran of many prestigious and diverse groups including the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, Maria Schneider's orchestra, Ron Carter's Great Big Band, and the Joe Lovano Nonet. While not an obvious choice in the company of top-tier avant-gardists, Robinson ...

7
Liner Notes

Samuel Blaser: As the Sea

Read "Samuel Blaser: As the Sea" reviewed by John Kelman


Plenty has been written about musical camaraderie--the building of long-term musical relationships and their unmistakable impact on the evolution of a group. Few, however, discuss the inevitable impact of personal relationships behind the music. Times have changed, and few jazz groups tour for more than a couple of consecutive weeks; still, hitting the road for even two weeks is sure to mean plenty of “up close and personal" time amongst band members. Samuel Blaser's Boundless (hatOLOGY, 2011) was recorded during ...

7
Album Review

Rob Mazurek Exploding Star Orchestra: Lightning Dreamers

Read "Lightning Dreamers" reviewed by Mark Corroto


The similarities between Rob Mazurek's Exploding Star Orchestra and Sun Ra's Arkestra are numerous. Both leaders travel the spaceways via the technologies available in their time, applied through dynamic rhythm and pulse. For Ra, his sound began when he was an apprentice in Fletcher Henderson's band in the 1940s, and Mazurek's 1990s work revolved around Isotope 217 and the various Chicago Underground (and later São Paulo Underground) ensembles. Both bandleaders were composers of their time, nonetheless they always create music ...

8
Album Review

East Axis: No Subject

Read "No Subject" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


As multi-reedist Scott Robinson, (Maria Schneider, Roscoe Mitchell) takes the horn chair from Allen Lowe, all is delivered and then some on No Subject, the second, reason-defying release from chameleonic improvisers pianist Matthew Shipp, bassist Kevin Ray, and drummer Gerald Cleaver. Turning to shorter forms and themes than the three lengthy group-thinks which determined 2021's restless narrative Cool With That (ESP), each member of East Axis integrally steers the protean charge to creation via his own curious instinct and will. ...

15
Album Review

Jeong Lim Yang: Zodiac Suite: Reassured

Read "Zodiac Suite: Reassured" reviewed by Dan McClenaghan


This is bold music. It bursts with freewheeling, chip-on-the-shoulder modernism. It is Korean-born bassist Jeong Lim Yang's take on pianist-composer Mary Lou Williams' Zodiac Suite (Asch Records, 1945). Yang tags her revisitation of the classic piece Zodiac Suite: Reassured. But a revisitation of Williams' original trio rendition—to prime the ears for the experience of hearing this new version—says there was an awful lot of boldness and a big modern lean going on back in the mid-twentieth century. Williams ...

4
Album Review

Fred Moten, Brandon López, Gerald Cleaver: Moten/López/Cleaver

Read "Moten/López/Cleaver" reviewed by Mark Corroto


Chuck D of Public Enemy fame once said, “rap music is the CNN of the ghetto." His words, coupled with samples and the scratching of turntables, were revelatory in their day, very much like a five-minute news update. Poet and cultural critic Fred Moten's words are more like a deep dive graduate colloquy. He presents his poetry together with the accomplished improvising musicians, bassist Brandon López and drummer Gerald Cleaver. At a first pass, listeners will certainly be ...

3
Album Review

Christopher Parker: Soul Food

Read "Soul Food" reviewed by John Sharpe


Pianist Christopher Parker convenes the Band Of Guardian Angels for five slices of rootsy free jazz on Soul Food. There is an organic down home feel to the often laid back interplay. But of course the creation of enduring music while being this relaxed occurs not by chance but stems from untold depth of experience. Joining Parker and his wife, vocalist Kelley Hurt, are three vets from the NYC scene in bassist William Parker (no relation), drummer Gerald Cleaver and ...

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1

Video / DVD

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Gerald Cleaver & Black Host

StLJN Saturday Video Showcase: Gerald Cleaver & Black Host

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman

Today, let's have a look at some videos featuring drummer, composer and bandleader Gerald Cleaver, whose group Black Host will be in St. Louis next Saturday, April 25 for a New Music Circle concert at The Stage at KDHX. Cleaver is a Detroit native known for his work with a wide range of artists in jazz and improvised music, including Joe Morris, Roscoe Mitchell, Miroslav Vitous, Michael Formanek, Tomasz Stanko, Lotte Anker, Craig Taborn, and many more. Black Host, just ...

178

Recording

Gerald Cleaver: Drummer by Nature

Gerald Cleaver: Drummer by Nature

Source: Free Jazz by Stef Gijssels

Great drummers tell stories: they are not only the time-keepers or the rhythmic base of the band. Great drummers make the music. Jack DeJohnette is in that category. So is Hamid Drake, so is Eddie Prévost, so is Tom Rainey. And so is Gerald Cleaver. It is extremely difficult to describe music, so I will refrain from describing why Cleaver's quality is exceptional. I can only invite you to listen. Just look at this quick overview of the past few ...

242

Recording

Gerald Cleaver - Be It as I See It (2011)

Gerald Cleaver - Be It as I See It (2011)

Source: Something Else!

By S. Victor Aaron Gerald Cleaver, along with Nasheet Waits, seems to always be the drummer on some really outstanding jazz records of late. Michael Formanek's The Rub And Spare Change required virtuosic musicians playing at peak level to make it work, and Cleaver did his part and then some, helping to compel me to make this my Mainstream and Modern Jazz Album of 2010. You can add to that his work with other major artists like Roscoe Mitchell, David ...

75

Radio

The Jazz Session #232: Gerald Cleaver

The Jazz Session #232: Gerald Cleaver

Source: AAJ Staff


47

Performance / Tour

Songs Set in a Bed of Improvisation

Songs Set in a Bed of Improvisation

Source: Ars Nova Workshop

Drummer Gerald Cleaver was last in Philadelphia when Ars Nova Workshop hosted the Michael Formanek Quartet in October, and he’ll be returning two more times before the New Year: on December 2 with the Gerald Cleaver Group and on December 12 with Mario Pavone’s Orange Double Tenor. Cleaver began playing drums, trumpet, and violin at an early age, and after earning a BA in music education from University of Michigan he taught in the music department at both his alma ...

147

Performance / Tour

Devin Gray + Gerald Cleaver Duet at KORZO (Brooklyn) on April 13th

Devin Gray + Gerald Cleaver Duet at KORZO (Brooklyn) on April 13th

Source: Michael Ricci

Tuesday April 13th, 11PM Devin Gray + Gerald Cleaver DUET Two Drums + Improvised music Konceptions @ KORZO 667 5th Avenue [bet. 19th + 20th streets] Brooklyn, NYC 11215 718.285.9425 korzorestaurant.com Subway: R or M train to Prospect Avenue There is a $7 cover charge per set. Korzo features amazing Eastern European cuisine and an impressive array of wine, bourbon, scotch and beers on tap. “The long-running progressive-jazz series Konceptions ...

309

Performance / Tour

Gerald Cleaver's Violet Hour (Fri-Sat) Nathan Eklund Group (Sun) & More This Weekend at Cornelia Street Cafe

Gerald Cleaver's Violet Hour (Fri-Sat) Nathan Eklund Group (Sun) & More This Weekend at Cornelia Street Cafe

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

CORNELIA STREET CAFE 29 Cornelia Street, NYC, New York 212-989-9319 between West 4th and Bleecker Sts, Greenwich Village 1 Subway to Sheridan Square; A, C, E, B, D, V, F to West 4th St.

This Weekend At Cornelia Street Cafe

Fri Jan 25, 9:00PM & 10:30PM GERALD CLEAVER'S VIOLET HOUR Duane Eubanks, trumpet & cornet; J.D. Allen, tenor saxophone; David Binney, alto saxophone; Ben Waltzer, piano; Chris Lightcap, ...

171

Performance / Tour

Michael Lydon (Tue) Soul of the Blues (Wed) Gnu Vox: Maria Neckam & Sunny Kim (Thu) Gerald Cleaver's Violet Hour (Fri-Sat) This Week at Cornelia Street Cafe

Michael Lydon (Tue) Soul of the Blues  (Wed) Gnu Vox: Maria Neckam & Sunny Kim (Thu) Gerald Cleaver's Violet Hour (Fri-Sat) This Week at Cornelia Street Cafe

Source: Jim Eigo, Jazz Promo Services

CORNELIA STREET CAFE 29 Cornelia Street New York, NY 212-989-9319 between West 4th and Bleecker Sts, Greenwich Village 1 Subway to Sheridan Square; A, C, E, B, D, V, F to West 4th St. This Week At Cornelia Street Cafe Tue Jan 22, 8:30PM JAZZ AND LOVE SONGS - MICHAEL LYDON AND FRIENDS Michael Lydon, guitar, vocals; Claire Daly, baritone saxophone; Ellen Mandel, piano; Dave Hofstra, bass; Rudy ...

103

Event

Firehouse 12 To Present Gerald Cleaver & Violet Hour December 15th

Firehouse 12 To Present Gerald Cleaver & Violet Hour December 15th

Source: Improvised Communications

Friday, December 15th at 8:30 and 10:00 p.m. Gerald Cleaver & Violet Hour Firehouse 12 45 Crown Street in New Haven, CT Details available here

On Tuesday, December 15th, New Haven's Firehouse 12 will close its 2006 Fall Jazz Series with a two-set performance by Gerald Cleaver & Violet Hour. Led by in-demand New York-based drummer/composer Gerald Cleaver, this acoustic sextet features trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, saxophonists Andrew Bishop and JD Allen, pianist ...

107

Performance / Tour

Gerald Cleaver & Violet Hour + Brazilian Fest This Weekend at Cornelia St. Cafe

Gerald Cleaver & Violet Hour + Brazilian Fest This Weekend at Cornelia St. Cafe

Source: All About Jazz

August 12, 2005 To: Listings/Critics/Features From: JAZZ PROMO SERVICES Press Contact: JIM EIGO, [email protected] Cornelia Street Cafe 29 Cornelia Street Greenwich Village, NY 10014 Tel: 212-989-9319 Fax: 212-243-4207 Web: corneliastreetcafe.com between West 4th and Bleecker Sts, Greenwich Village 1,9 Subway to Sheridan Square; A, C, E, B, D, F to West 4th St. “a culinary as well as a cultural landmark" Mayoral Proclamation, City of New York 1987 Fri Aug 12 GERALD CLEAVER: VIOLET HOUR (Jeremy Pelt, trumpet & cornet; ...

Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

No Subject

Brother Mister Productions
2023

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Lightning Dreamers

International Anthem Recording Company
2023

buy

fLuXkit Vancouver...

Northern Spy Records
2023

buy

March

Firehouse 12 Records
2022

buy

Heatmap

Imani
2022

buy

Surrounding

From: Heatmap
By Gerald Cleaver

Pack Up, Coming for You

From: March
By Gerald Cleaver

Singing Again

From: Beyond Other Stories
By Gerald Cleaver

27 Licks

From: 27 Licks
By Gerald Cleaver

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