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 has conducted Jazz Flute Mastersclasses in San Francisco and Paris.
Gerald has played in several venues in San Francisco and New York, 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, and the Elbo Room. In New York at Temple M and The Bass Line. He enjoys featuring the flute on songs that have not been over-played by other flutists, and takes every opportunity to showcase the many facets of the instrument and its uniqueness to the jazz genre.
He has self-produced three CD's, all receiving national airplay and recognition -
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
Grammy Ballot nominee for Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group Category -
FluteVibes - 2006 nominee
Traveling West - 2004 nominee
Black Eyes - 2002 nominee
Radio Interviews :
KCSM 91.1 FM radio with Chris Cortez - San Mateo, CA (2002, 2004, 2006)
KVLU 91.3 FM radio with Jason Miller - Beaumont, TX (2004)
KPOO 89.5 FM radio with Avotcja - San Francisco, CA (2008)
WKCR 89.9 FM radio with Sharif in New York City (6-2009)
National publication reviews -
JazzTimes Magazine August 2006 volume 36/number 6 (CD - FluteVibes - 2006)
Jazz Magazines online recognition -
Sounds of Timeless Jazz (soundsoftimelessjazz.com) - January 2006 Artist of the Month
Radioio Jazz (radioio.com) - FluteVibes - featured CD January 2006
Contact:
GeraldBeckett@aol.com