Derek Gripper

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.