Jazz Articles about Gerald Cleaver

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Gerald Cleaver / William Parker / Craig Taborn: Farmers By Nature

by Mark F. Turner
February 7, 2009

Farmers By Nature is the perfect outlet for these three highly respected progressives: drummer Gerald Cleaver, bassist William Parker and pianist Craig Taborn. Their herculean abilities have been witnessed on their recordings as leaders--Cleaver's Detroit (Fresh Sound New Talent, 2008), Parker's Petit Oiseau (AUM Fidelity, 2008) and Taborn's Junk Magic (Thirsty Ear, 2004)--and on collaborations with seminal artists including Tim Berne, Roscoe Mitchell, Matthew Shipp and David Torn. Cleaver's brilliant idea to create their own collective came to fruition when ...

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Gerald Cleaver: Detroit

by Tom Greenland
May 3, 2008

Detroit, Gerald Cleaver's sophomore release and a tone portrait of the Motor City, further establishes the drummer, best known as a prolific and versatile sideman, as a leader and composer in his own right. A brief photo essay in the liner notes displaying dilapidated buildings and skid-row denizens strikes a melancholy tone, but the music is anything but.

Cleaver's tunes are vigorous and compelling: “The Silly One" has through-composed accents that lend it effortless forward motion; “Henry" has slow moving ...

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Chris Lightcap Quartet: Bigmouth

by Phil DiPietro
October 15, 2003

The jazz world has more than a few parallels to the world of sports, but unfortunately isn't given the same level of coverage and scrutiny. The rise of the formerly- regarded “team player" to sudden “all-star" status based on a reshuffling of the supporting cast is common to both worlds. Chris Lightcap now affirms his talents deserve wider recognition with this slam dunk followup to his debut, Lay-up. Blurring distinctions between the what-is-free and the what-is-harmony-based informs the playing of ...

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Gerald Cleaver / Veil of Names: Adjust

by Phil DiPietro
November 12, 2002

Calling this one of 2001's most surprising , refreshing and simply best releases is not as intrepid an estimation as it may seem, since it was one of three nominees by the Jazz Journalists' Association for Recording Debut of their jazz year (April 15, 2001 - April 15, 2002). Splitting his prodigious talents between the gigging/recording and academic worlds, Detroit (and U Michigan)'s Gerald Cleaver, who's already made his mark in straight and avant camps, makes a powerful debut with ...

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Rene Marie: How Can I Keep From Singing

by C. Michael Bailey
May 1, 2000

Back To The MAX. The new jazz label, MAXJAZZ, was formally founded with the release of the first four recordings in their “Vocal Series." These recordings included LaVerne Butler's Blues In The City, Carla Cook's It's All About Love (MXJ 106), Christine Hitt's You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (MXJ 107), and Asa Harris' All In Good Time (MXJ 108). All of these recordings garnered critical praise, with It's All About Love being nominated for a Grammy Award. ...