Gerald Cleaver is an African-American jazz

Jazz

Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...

 drummer

Drummer

A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...

 from Detroit, Michigan

Michigan

Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....

. He joined the jazz faculty at the University of Michigan

University of Michigan

The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...

 in 1995. He has performed or recorded with Joe Morris

Joe Morris (guitarist)

Joe Morris is an American jazz guitarist. In addition to leading his own groups, he has recorded with William Parker, Whit Dickey, Rob Brown, Joe Maneri and others...

, Mat Maneri

Mat Maneri

Mat Maneri, born on October 4, 1969 in Brooklyn, New York is an American composer, improviser and jazz violin and viola player, specifically derivatives such as the five-string viola, the electric six-string violin, and the baritone violin...

, Roscoe Mitchell

Roscoe Mitchell

Roscoe Mitchell is an African American composer, jazz instrumentalist and educator, mostly known for being "a technically superb—if idiosyncratic—saxophonist." He has been called "one of the key figures" in avant-garde jazz who has been "at the forefront of modern music" for the past...

, Miroslav Vitous

Miroslav Vitouš

Miroslav Ladislav Vitouš , is a Czech jazz bassist.-Biography:Born in Prague, he began the violin at age six, and started playing the piano at age ten, and bass at fourteen. As a young man in Europe, Vitouš was a competitive swimmer. One of his early music groups was the Junior Trio with his...

, Yaron Herman

Yaron Herman

Yaron Herman is an Israeli jazz pianist now living in Paris, France.- Biography :Yaron Herman was born in Tel-Aviv on 12 July 1981. He started to learn the piano at 16 using a methodology based on philosophy, mathematics and psychology. Two years later, Yaron earned the prestigious Rimon School of...

, Ralph Alessi

Ralph Alessi

Ralph Alessi is a jazz trumpeter and composer originally from San Rafael, California, probably better known for being a member of bands led by saxophonist Steve Coleman...

, Franck Amsallem

Franck Amsallem

Franck Amsallem is a French jazz pianist, composer and also singer. He was born in 1961 in Oran, then in French Algeria, but grew up in Nice, France.He started learning the piano at age 7 and also took up the classical saxophone at the local conservatory...

, David Torn

David Torn

David Torn is an American composer and guitarist.He is known for the organic blending/manipulation of electronic and acoustic instruments and performance techniques that have an atmospheric or textural quality and effect, along with a particular harmonic richness...

, Mario Pavone

Mario Pavone

Mario Pavone is an American jazz bassist.He grew up in Waterbury, Connecticut and began performing in 1965. He was a member of Paul Bley's trio during 1968-72, and Bill Dixon's trio during the 1980s. He also performed with such musicians as Barry Altschul, Wadada Leo Smith, and Gerry Hemingway...

 and others.

Under the name Veil of Names, Gerald Cleaver released an album called Adjust on the Fresh Sounds New Talent label in 2001. It featured Mat Maneri

Mat Maneri

Mat Maneri, born on October 4, 1969 in Brooklyn, New York is an American composer, improviser and jazz violin and viola player, specifically derivatives such as the five-string viola, the electric six-string violin, and the baritone violin...

, Ben Monder

Ben Monder

-Biography:Monder attended the University of Miami. He has worked with a wide variety of musicians including Lee Konitz, Toots Thielmans, Paul Motian and Maria Schneider....

, Andrew Bishop, Craig Taborn

Craig Taborn

Craig Taborn is an American keyboardist and composer. Playing piano, organ, and Moog synthesizer, Taborn has worked mostly in jazz, although he also does dark ambient and techno music....

 and Reid Anderson

Reid Anderson

Reid Anderson is a bassist and composer originally from Minnesota. Anderson is best known for his work in The Bad Plus with pianist Ethan Iverson and drummer Dave King...

 and was a Best Debut Recording Nominne by the Jazz Journalists Association

Jazz Journalists Association

The Jazz Journalists Association is an international organization of all types of media professionals who document, promulgate, or appreciate jazz. As of 2011, it has approximately 500 members, primarily in North America but also on other continents...

.

He currently leads the groups Uncle June, Violet Hour and NiMbNl as well as working as a sideman with many different artists.

Discography

With Roscoe Mitchell

Roscoe Mitchell

Roscoe Mitchell is an African American composer, jazz instrumentalist and educator, mostly known for being "a technically superb—if idiosyncratic—saxophonist." He has been called "one of the key figures" in avant-garde jazz who has been "at the forefront of modern music" for the past...

• Nine to Get Ready
  Nine to Get Ready
  Nine to Get Ready is an album by jazz saxophonist and composer Roscoe Mitchell recorded in 1997 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 3 stars stating "The performances are mostly concise, emphasize ensembles and are sometimes surprisingly...
  
  (ECM, 1997)

With Miroslav Vitous

Miroslav Vitouš

Miroslav Ladislav Vitouš , is a Czech jazz bassist.-Biography:Born in Prague, he began the violin at age six, and started playing the piano at age ten, and bass at fourteen. As a young man in Europe, Vitouš was a competitive swimmer. One of his early music groups was the Junior Trio with his...

• Universal Syncopations II
  Universal Syncopations II
  Universal Syncopations II is an album by Czech bassist Miroslav Vitous recorded in 2004-05 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Alex Henderson awarded the album 3½ stars stating "The interesting thing is that while Universal Syncopations 2 stresses ensemble playing and...
  
  (ECM, 1995)