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The Squid's Ear Magazine

Cleaver, Gerald / Devin Gray
27 Licks

Cleaver, Gerald / Devin Gray: 27 Licks (Rataplan Records)

Drummer Gerald Cleaver's significance in NY free jazz can't be understated, and his influence and work with younger generation drummer Devin Gray as a teacher, friend and associate has shaped Gray's work, as heard here in this monumental encounter between the two drummers, a duet that started many years before, playing in the streets of NYC, and now properly captured in the studio.
 

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product information:

Personnel:



Gerald Cleaver-drums, percussion

Devin Gray-drums, percussion


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Label: Rataplan Records
Catalog ID: RR007
Squidco Product Code: 30548

Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2021
Country: USA
Packaging: Cardstock Gatefold sleeve in a clear plastic sleeve
Recorded at Douglass Recording in Brooklyn, New York, on December 8th, 2019, by Juanma Trujillo.

Descriptions, Reviews, &c.

"This duo album is the latest recording by two drummers who have played and recorded together many times since they first met at the Banff Workshop in 2006. Cleaver was teaching, Gray was a student. Gerald Cleaver (b.1963) is one of the most respected drummers on the free scene, while Devin Gray, now in his mid 30's, has become a top-call drummer in New York. Their CD (also available from Devin Gray's Bandcamp) consists of eight tracks. Seven of them are quite short, whereas the eighth and final track is much longer, just under 21 mins. Each of the short tracks has a particular focus: the opening track, 27 Licks, presents a gentle conversation between the two drummers; F. Train Drain leads off with what sounds like a Chinese gong before building up to an intense climax with both drummers; Headed to Barbes pays tribute to a leading Brooklyn club with drums interacting with a cymbal wash; Love Conquers Hate presents a series of natural sounds as if one was walking through aforest; One for Bernie is presumably a tribute to Bernie Sanders and is appropriately challenging with sharp metallic sounds; The Long Roll Ahead proceeds unsurprisingly through a series drum rolls contrasting with a repeated pattern on the cymbals; Shenanigans is also quite challenging in its initial use of cymbals before settling down to a nice groove on the drums. The long track, Headbangers, has much more of a narrative going through a series of episodes and a lot of call-and-response between the two drummers. Gray has spoken eloquently about his gratitude to Cleaver: "It's honestly really hard for me to imagine where I would be in my life right now if I hadn't met Gerald in the way we did so many years ago." It may seem paradoxical, but their sense of fellowship and common purpose has produced an album to sit back and to enjoy in a relaxed manner, perhaps with a beer or a glass of wine..."-Tony Dudley-Evans, londonjazznews.com


Artist Biographies

"Gerald Cleaver (born May 4, 1963) is an African-American jazz drummer from Detroit, Michigan. Cleaver's father is drummer John Cleaver Jr., originally from Springfield, Ohio, and his mother was from Greenwood, Mississippi. Gerald had six older siblings. 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 Vitous, Michael Formanek, Tomasz Sta ko, Franck Amsallem and others.

Under the name Veil of Names, Cleaver released an album called Adjust on the Fresh Sounds 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."

-Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerald_Cleaver_(musician))
7/9/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.

"An artist interested in multiple musical directions and one who strives for quality and sincerity in his work. His exciting energy has compelled him towards many different musical directions and projects. Considered by his contemporaries as cutting edge, Gray shows promise as an artist that will not only move the music forward, but one who will share his unique musical vision with the world of music.

Devin Gray's fresh approach to modern drumming has enabled him to play with many of America's great jazz musicians. He has performed and recorded with innovative musicians of contrasting styles and backgrounds such as: David Liebman, Tony Malaby, Gary Thomas, Ingrid Jensen, Dave Burrell, Dave Ballou, Michael Formanek, Nate Wooley, Stephan Crump, George Garzone, Chris Speed, Drew Gress, Sam Rivers, Ralph Alessi, John O'Gallagher, Ellery Eskelin, Kris Davis, Ted Rosenthal, Matt Mitchell, Uri Caine, Andrew D'Angelo, Vardan Ovsepian, Bill McHenry as well as many others.

Devin has been fortunate to perform in many places around the globe and continues to make peace with his audiences. He is a top call young drummer in many modern jazz circles in New York City as well as multiple cities on the East Coast of America. Current leader projects include two quartets: "Dirigo Rataplan" featuring Ellery Eskelin, Dave Ballou, and Michael Formanek, and "RelativE ResonancE" featuring Chris Speed, Kris Davis, and Chris Tordini. He is currently living, playing, and composing in Brooklyn, New York."

-http://devingraymusic.com/about (Devin Gray Website)
7/9/2025

Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.


Track Listing:



1. 27 Licks 03:40

2. F Train Drain 04:06

3. Headed to Barbes 02:44

4. Love Conquers Hate 04:07

5. One for Bernie 02:53

6. The Long Roll Ahead 03:41

7. Shenanigans 01:39

8. Headbangers 20:57

Related Categories of Interest:


Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
NY Downtown & Metropolitan Jazz/Improv
Percussion & Drums
Duo Recordings
Staff Picks & Recommended Items

Search for other titles on the label:
Rataplan Records.

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The Squid's Ear Magazine

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