Derek Gripper

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Derek Gripper’s solo guitar concert is a conversation between African traditions and Western composition—most notably the music of Toumani Diabate, J.S. Bach and Arvo Pärt. Gripper is known for his groundbreaking technique for evoking the West African kora on the guitar. He’s performed at Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Royal Albert Hall and many other esteemed venues. 

Derek Gripper’s painstaking, note-for-note transcriptions of the complex compositions of Toumani Diabaté allowed him to discover a way of playing them on six-string guitar. The result appears on his ninth album, One Night on Earth. The album created an unprecedented meeting point between the written tradition of Western classical music and the oral tradition of the West African griots.

Critical acclaim was quick to follow. Classical guitar legend John Williams said he thought it was “absolutely impossible until I heard Derek Gripper do it.” Toumani Diabaté, himself, asked for confirmation that it was indeed just one person playing one guitar. Both invited Derek to collaborate with them.

Gripper’s recent recordings, including Billy Goes to Durban (2021) and Sleep Songs for My Daughter (2022) dovetail between original compositions, spontaneous improvisation and recitations of works by composers like Bach, Pärt, Salif Keita, Fanta Sacko and Baaba Maal, bringing seemingly disparate traditions and musical practices together in a seamless guitar experience like no other.  

What They’re Saying …

“Gripper has cracked it…his playing has a depthless beauty, which does full justice to the complexity of Toumani’s compositions. To do so without any hint of the music being dumbed down is a staggering achievement on solo guitar.” - Nigel Williamson, Songlines Magazine

“More than a labour of love, Gripper has brought a new purity to the dream-like improvisatory nature of these compositions. My recording of the year, so far!” - Tim Panting, Classical Guitar Magazine

”The result is astounding, not just for its technical brilliance, but its musicality. Gripper executes these pieces with the precision and attention to detail one might expect from a great classical musician…It’s hard to imagine a more impressive and passionate rendering of Malian music on classical guitar.” - Banning Eyre, Afropop Worldwide   

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Sponsorship Opportunities: These are available for all our shows. For a nominal cost, individuals or businesses can sponsor any of our shows and reap a number of benefits - free tickets, reserved table, recognition on literature, our web site and at the concerts. For more information simply contact our Sponsorship Director Morris Biddle at mobiddley@me.com