Griots is Gerald Cleaver's second electronic album, jointly released by 577 Records sub
label Positive Elevation and Meakusma. It sees Cleaver further exploring the depths of
electronic music offered by his hometown Detroit, combining those influences with his
personal musical background. A jazz drummer. originally from Detroit, Cleaver has for
years been one of the leading drummers and composers in New York's jazz scene.
Griots is all about spontaneity, dealing with a wide range of influences and ideas,
blending them in an at times gentle, at times ferocious flurry of rowdy synthesis, FM tones
and muted drum machines. The album is a challenging listen that offers comfort as well as
contorted acceptance. It defines the nature of inspiration as circular. Griots also features
Cuban jazz pianist and composer David Virelles and American composer and trumpeter
Ambrose Akinmusire. Highly original and striking a unique and informed tone, Griots
loops psychedelic sounds and rhythmic ideas, adding a version-like feel to it's IDM and
club music influences. Its templates are open-ended and shed light on what is going on
around us.
Available on vinyl and digital, with the vinyl version containing seven tracks + four digitalonly tracks that are downloadable upon purchasing a copy.
Mastered by Jeremy Loucas at Sear sound / Distribution by Crevette / Gerald Cleaver:
Electronics / Virelles features David Virelles / Recorded in 2020 in Brooklyn, New York /
Mixed and mastered by Jeremy Loucas at Sear Sound, New York City / Buena Vista mixed
by Chris Castagno / Inner Sleeve portrait by Attila Kleb / Design in London, January 2021,
by Philip Marshall.