Jazz Articles about Derek Gripper

About Derek Gripper

Radio & Podcasts

Derek Gripper and Ballaké Sissoko: Strings in Perfect Harmony

by Steven Roby
January 14, 2025

Derek Gripper's music is where tradition meets transformation. Hailing from Cape Town, South Africa, Gripper has spent his career transcending the boundaries of classical guitar by breathing new life into African string traditions. His latest project, a stunning collaboration with Malian kora master Ballaké Sissoko, exemplifies the kind of creative daring that defies categorization. During a recent episode of Backstage Bay Area, Gripper shared the story behind this remarkable partnership and his musical journey. With the sun streaming into his ...

Multiple Reviews

Peo Alfonsi e Derek Gripper: chitarra classica, tra musica colta e popolare

by Mario Calvitti
April 27, 2017

Tra la musica cosiddetta “colta" di origine accademica e quella di matrice popolare probabilmente non è mai esistita una linea di separazione netta come molti (soprattutto in ambito classico) vorrebbero far credere. Troppe sono le influenze reciproche esercitate nel corso dei secoli, anche nonostante le diversità dei vari contesti storico-culturali che si sono avvicendati nel tempo. La chitarra è sicuramente uno degli strumenti più diffusi tra quelli utilizzati da entrambi i mondi musicali, e molto spesso ha consentito ...

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Interview

Derek Gripper: Finding the New Cape

by Seton Hawkins
May 17, 2011

In 2002, Cape Town-based guitarist, violist, and composer Derek Gripper began a musical collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Alex van Heerden. In doing so, the two men sparked a musical partnership that would, in only a few months, smash through stylistic boundaries on their debut recording Sagtevlei > (New Cape Records, 2010). Drawing upon the rich ghoema musical tradition of Cape Town, Sagtevlei proved to be a haunting and magical journey into the artistic legacy of the Cape, and showcased two young ...