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Derek Gripper
Derek Gripper - Music from the Strings of Mali
Manuel Artime Theater
900 SW 1st St
Miami, FL 33130
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About this concert
Derek Gripper’s journey began with a question: How could the intricate, flowing music of West Africa’s griots — traditionally played on the 21-string kora — be brought to life on the guitar? His album One Night on Earth was the answer, a recording so unexpected that celebrated guitarist John Williams said, “It seemed absolutely impossible until I heard Derek Gripper do it.”
But this project wasn’t just about technical mastery. It was about creating connection — between African oral traditions and Western classical music, between different ways of listening and understanding. Along the way, Gripper has performed with legendary musicians like John Williams and Toumani Diabaté’s Symmetric Orchestra, sharing stages from Carnegie Hall to Shakespeare’s Globe.
In his concerts, Derek weaves together the works of composers like Toumani Diabaté, Ali Farka Touré, J.S. Bach, and Arvo Pärt, creating a dialogue where different musical traditions meet, listen, and learn from one another.
His adventurous spirit and artistry have been recognized by Songlines Magazine more than once: his 2016 album Libraries on Fire was named Best Album in Africa & the Middle East, and his 2024 collaboration with kora master Ballaké Sissoko won Songlines’ Best Album award for that year.
Recent projects like A Year of Swimming and his ongoing work with Sissoko blend original compositions, improvisations, and West African and European musical lineages. His recordings of Bach’s solo works reveal surprising links between classical music and the improvisational spirit of the griots.
We hope you’ll join us for an unforgettable evening of music, connection, and discovery with Derek Gripper.
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What fans are saying
Carlo
April 11th 2025
Amazing artistry and musical creation both from Derek and Guy
Salem, OR@Salem's Historic Grand Theatre
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Derek Gripper Biography
Derek Gripper is a globally renowned South African guitarist who has rewritten the narrative of classical guitar by infusing it with the sounds of the West African kora.
Gripper’s transformative journey began with the release of “One Night on Earth,” his translations of the music of kora virtuoso Toumani Diabaté. Celebrated classical guitarist John Williams said it seemed “absolutely impossible until I heard Derek Gripper do it,” leading to collaborations with this icon of the guitar at London’s Shakespeare’s Globe, as well as a collaboration with Toumani Diabaté at The Festival Acoustik in Bamako, Mali. Even Gripper’s debut at the revered Carnegie Hall saw him performing alongside Mali’s Trio da Kali, an endorsement of his revolutionary approach.
Recent recordings like “A Year of Swimming,” “Billy Goes to Durban,” and his latest album with kora master Ballaké Sissoko, introduce original compositions and improvisations, each a testament to his dedication to evolving and challenging his musical style. Moreover, his recordings of the solo works of J.S. Bach have been a fascinating study in the symbiosis of African music and early European melodies, revealing the freedom and universality of one of Europe’s great improvising musicians.
"A New African String Theory" captures the essence of the human experience in the importance of rediscovering ourselves through dialogue.
The great Malian kora player Toumani passed away unexpectedly in July of 2024. To commemorate the passing of one of Africa’s great virtuosos, Derek will perform the five compositions off Toumani’s debut album “Kaira” in a brand new, never before performed, rendition of these classics of the West African repertoire.
Read MoreGripper’s transformative journey began with the release of “One Night on Earth,” his translations of the music of kora virtuoso Toumani Diabaté. Celebrated classical guitarist John Williams said it seemed “absolutely impossible until I heard Derek Gripper do it,” leading to collaborations with this icon of the guitar at London’s Shakespeare’s Globe, as well as a collaboration with Toumani Diabaté at The Festival Acoustik in Bamako, Mali. Even Gripper’s debut at the revered Carnegie Hall saw him performing alongside Mali’s Trio da Kali, an endorsement of his revolutionary approach.
Recent recordings like “A Year of Swimming,” “Billy Goes to Durban,” and his latest album with kora master Ballaké Sissoko, introduce original compositions and improvisations, each a testament to his dedication to evolving and challenging his musical style. Moreover, his recordings of the solo works of J.S. Bach have been a fascinating study in the symbiosis of African music and early European melodies, revealing the freedom and universality of one of Europe’s great improvising musicians.
"A New African String Theory" captures the essence of the human experience in the importance of rediscovering ourselves through dialogue.
The great Malian kora player Toumani passed away unexpectedly in July of 2024. To commemorate the passing of one of Africa’s great virtuosos, Derek will perform the five compositions off Toumani’s debut album “Kaira” in a brand new, never before performed, rendition of these classics of the West African repertoire.
African
Classical Crossover
Guitar Virtuoso
Instrumental
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