Michael Gibbs Collection

Michael Gibbs is one of the most influential composer/arrangers of the late 20^th and early 21^st Century. Spanning seven decades, his career has taken him from the being the first African student at Berklee College of Music in 1959, to writing the arrangements for the 2024 Blue Note release 'Orchestras' with guitarist Bill Frisell. 

Born in Rhodesia in 1937, Gibbs has spent significant periods living in Boston, New York and London, and most recently in Malaga, Spain. The list of jazz artists who have called on his orchestrating skills includes Jaco Pastorius, Buddy Rich, John Dankworth, Gary Burton, Joe Lovano, John McLaughlin, Norma Winstone and John Schofield. His string writing can also be heard underscoring tracks by Joni Mitchell, Whitney Houston, Peter Gabriel and Sister Sledge. 

A regular on the European big band scene for many years, Gibbs has worked with regularly with the NDR BigBand, alongside appearances with the WDR Big Band, Danish Radio Big Band, UMO Jazz Orchestra, Frankfurt Radio Big Band and the Upper Austrian Jazz Orchestra. His film credits include Housekeeping (1987), Iron & Silk (1990), Being Human (1993), All Men Are Mortal (1995) and Gregory's Two Girls (1999).

The Michael Gibbs Collection at the ADM Archive contains scores for his music,  documents relating to his tours and career, recordings, reviews of and articles about his work, as well as extensive photography of himself, his performances and of his fellow musicians. It was kindly donated to the archive in 2024.

The Music of Michael Gibbs | JazzComposersPresent.com Roundtable

In December 2025, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire collaborated with online masterclass platform JazzComposersPresent.com to present a Roundtable discussion featuring the music of Michael Gibbs. Facilitated by lecturer Ed Puddick, the incredible panel features Richard DeRosa, Dave Rivello, Gary Burton, and Michael Gibbs himself. The Roundtable celebrates RBC awarding Gibbs with an Honorary Doctorate in November 2025, along with the opening of the Michael Gibbs Collection. The panel of long-time colleagues and collaborators each selected a Gibbs composition to discuss and a favourite album to highlight.

Watch the JazzComposersPresent.com Music of Michael Gibbs Roundtable below.