Home » Jazz Musicians » Gerald Cleaver

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

Tags

Photos

Concert Schedule

Album Discography

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

No Subject

Brother Mister Productions
2023

buy

Lightning Dreamers

International Anthem Recording Company
2023

buy

March

Firehouse 12 Records
2022

buy

Heatmap

Imani
2022

buy

Moten/López/Cleaver

Relative Pitch Records
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

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.