Gerald Cleaver, an influential African-American jazz drummer and composer, was born on May 4, 1963, in Detroit, Michigan. He is married to Jean Carla Rodea.
Cleaver has established himself as a prominent figure in the New York jazz scene, showcasing a diverse range of styles. His extensive collaborations include notable jazz musicians such as Tommy Flanagan, Barry Harris, and Ray Bryant, as well as key figures from the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM), including Roscoe Mitchell, Muhal Richard Abrams, Wadada Leo Smith, and Henry Threadgill. This rich array of associations reflects his deep roots in various traditions of creative music.
Among his most significant collaborations, Cleaver is recognized for his work with artists like Roscoe Mitchell, Charles Gayle, Miroslav Vitous, Mario Pavone, William Parker, Michael Formanek, Joe Morris, Jeremy Pelt, Craig Taborn, and Yaron Herman. He leads several ensembles, including Uncle June, which explores the personal and familial struggles of Black Americans during The Great Migration with members such as Tony Malaby, Andrew Bishop, Mat Maneri, Craig Taborn, and Drew Gress. Other projects include Violet Hour, a tribute to his hometown of Detroit featuring Jeremy Pelt, JD Allen, Andrew Bishop, Ben Waltzer, and Chris Lightcap; Black Host, known for its avant-garde sound with Pascal Niggenkemper, Cooper-Moore, Darius Jones, and Brandon Seabrook; and Farmers By Nature, a free-improvising collective co-directed with bassist William Parker and pianist Craig Taborn.
Growing up in Detroit, Cleaver was influenced by the city's vibrant music scene, particularly by his father, drummer John Cleaver, Jr., after whom Uncle June is named. He began drumming at an early age and also played violin and trumpet during his schooling. As a teenager, he gained valuable experience alongside Detroit jazz luminaries such as Ali Muhammad Jackson, Lamont Hamilton, Earl Van Riper, and Pancho Hagood. While studying music education at the University of Michigan, he received a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Study Grant to study with drummer Victor Lewis. Cleaver graduated in 1992 and began teaching in Detroit, collaborating with well-known musicians including Rodney Whitaker, Marcus Belgrave, and Donald Walden, as well as visiting artists like Hank Jones, Kenny Burrell, Frank Foster, Cecil Bridgewater, Eddie Harris, Howard Johnson, Diana Krall, and Don Byron.
In 1995, Cleaver became an assistant professor of Jazz Studies at the University of Michigan, and in 1998, he joined the jazz faculty at Michigan State University. He relocated to New York in 2002, where he shifted his focus entirely to performance. Throughout his career, Cleaver has played and recorded with a wide range 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 album, Adjust (Fresh Sound New Talent), received a nomination for Best Debut Recording from the Jazz Journalists Association. Cleaver's Detroit (Fresh Sound New Talent) serves as a tribute to his hometown and honors the legacy of prominent Detroit drummers Roy Brooks, Lawrence Williams, George Goldsmith, and Richard "Pistol" Allen. His most recent work with Uncle June, Be It As I See It (Fresh Sound New Talent), represents Cleaver’s deeply personal exploration of his familial history and his experiences as a Black American.
