Biography
Flautist Gerald, born in Beaumont, Texas, started playing alto saxophone at the age of 11. As a freshman at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas he switched to playing the flute. During his years as an undergraduate at UNT he played with various local bands. Mindful of how unpredictable making a living as a musician could be, he studied business and received his BBA in Administrative Management.
It wasn’t until moving to San Francisco in 1985 that he began immersing himself in the jazz scene. He started listening to various flutists, from Eric Dolphy, Frank Wess, Herbie Mann, Hubert Laws, to Dave Valentin, Paul Horn, and others. He spent 8 years studying flute at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under Yada Weber, giving recitals of works by Mozart, Telemann, Gluck, and Ernest Bloch. He also studied with classical flutist Esther Landau. He enjoys featuring the flute on songs that have not been over played and takes every opportunity to showcase the many facets of the instrument and it’s uniqueness to the jazz genre.
He has conducted Jazz Flute Mastersclasses in San Francisco, Marseille, and Paris.
Gerald has played in several venues in San Francisco either as a leader or as a sideman, such as, Rassales Jazz Club, Sheba’s Lounge, Anna’s Jazz Island, San Francisco State University, The Fillmore Jazz Festival, The Showroom, The Elbo Room, OZ lounge, 57th Street Gallery, and Yoshi’s Lounge. In New York at Temple M and The Bass Line. In France Eaubonne Jazz festival (Eaubonne), Gebelin Musique Store (Marseille), Caminito (Paris), and Swan Bar (Paris).
He has self-produced six CD's, all receiving national airplay and recognition -
Oblivion - (Summit Records 2017) Jazzweek Chart ranking #15
The Messenger - (Summit Records 2014) JazzWeek Chart ranking #12
Standard Flute - (Summit Records 2011) JazzWeek Chart ranking #29
FluteVibes - (Summit Records 2006), JazzWeek Chart ranking #14
Traveling West - (Summit Records 2004), JazzWeek Chart ranking #37
Black Eyes - (Wolfetones Records 2002), JazzWeek Chart ranking #50
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