Gerald Cleaver


Gerald Cleaver is a jazz drummer from Detroit, Michigan.

Early life

Cleaver's father is drummer John Cleaver Jr., originally from Springfield, Ohio, and his mother was from Greenwood, Mississippi. Gerald had six older siblings.

Career

Cleaver joined the jazz faculty at the University of Michigan in 1995. He has performed or recorded with Joe Morris, Mat Maneri, Roscoe Mitchell, Miroslav Vitouš, Michael Formanek, Tomasz Stańko, Franck Amsallem and others.
Under the name Veil of Names, Cleaver released an album called Adjust on the Fresh Sound New Talent label in 2001. It featured Maneri, Ben Monder, Andrew Bishop, Craig Taborn and Reid Anderson and was a Best Debut Recording Nominee by the Jazz Journalists Association.
Cleaver currently leads the groups Uncle June, Black Host, Violet Hour and NiMbNl as well as working as a sideman with many different artists.

Discography

An asterisk indicates that the year is that of release.

As sideman

With Lotte AnkerTriptych Live at the Loft Floating Islands
With Samuel Blaser7th Heaven Boundless with Marc DucretAs the Sea with Marc DucretSpring Rain
With Ellery EskelinTrio Willisau Live Trio New York II Trio New York
With Chris LightcapLay-up BigmouthDeluxe Epicenter SuperBigmouth
With Roscoe MitchellThe Day and the Night Nine to Get Ready Song for My Sister
With Joe MorrisUnderthru At the Old Office Altitude Balance
With Ivo PerelmanFamily Ties with Joe MorrisThe Living Jelly with Joe MorrisThe Foreign Legion with Matthew ShippEnigma with Matthew Shipp and Whit DickeySerendipity with Matthew Shipp and William ParkerThe Art of The Improv Trio Volume 1 with Karl BergerThe Art of The Improv Trio Volume 3 with Matthew ShippThe Art of The Improv Trio Volume 4 with William ParkerThe Art of The Improv Trio Volume 5 with Joe MorrisThe Art of The Improv Trio Volume 6 with Joe MorrisBreaking Point with Mat Maneri and Joe MorrisOctagon with Brandon Lopez and Nate Wooley
With Matthew ShippPastoral Composure New Orbit The Blue Series Continuum – Sorcerer Sessions Equilibrium Harmony and Abyss Our Lady of the Flowers
With Miroslav VitousUniversal Syncopations II Remembering Weather Report Music of Weather Report
With others