I do definitively admire. I was a classical guitar player... was, because I somehow get retired (75 years old) but more than 40 years ago, I did fall in love with Kora, then with Malian music. Heard all the great masters, but not only Kora players, singer too like Mahawa Kouyaté wife of Soundioulou Cissokho Kora player himself) ) Never thought (because I never tried I'm playing Classical Indian Music too) it could be possible to play so perfectly Kora's style and to be wonderfully a true "Malian" music player. As if you were born Malian... Hat down. Music is the world of sound, of vibration and that's all, and you prove there is no barrier in these world. Thanks a lot.
Incredible, Derek. I remember your lounge concerts and your wife's lovely vegetarian food. Very well done with this body of work. This music has always spoken to my soul and now one of my best musicians has made it his life's work. Love!!!
I heard a recent interview with John Williams the famous classical guitarist. He raved about Derek Gripper as one of the most exciting fresh new players out there who had an approach that was amazing and something entirely different. He was most insistent that everyone should check Derek Gripper out...that is why i’m listening to this now.
It's all music politics. This is total garbage. Terrible sound production. Arrogant air and ugly, pretentious facial expressions that do not translate to musical expression. Total fraud.
George - you are sooooo way off - obviously you’re a failed “musician”. I have loved the musicians for a long time that Derek is interpreting here and it is a beautiful thing. Look inside my friend and find out why you have such an ugly outlook on the world.
@@kents2908 That is just your opinion. I also do not think much of either this 'music' or of its pretentious performer and *his* 'ugly' faces he makes. Spare me the lecture. Not everyone has to agree with you and not everyone who disagrees is a 'failure'. *You* may be the ones with a very primitive understanding of music and those who do not like may be superior musicians. You don't know. You just assume. And *you* are 'ugly' to jump to such conclusions.
Even if we are just two persons in the world, nothing else matters. You find the Joy and the same vibe, positive vibration. I was sure that some people listen deeply the same thing. Merci
Derek, I just learned of you by way of a friend in Australia who saw you pre-pandemic. To put it mildly, I"m smitten. I contacted the good folks at the Old Town School of Folk Music here in Chicago to see if they can book you and hope you come. It's the perfect venue for you to showcase your abilities and have a great time.
We really enjoyed your concert at DePaul University in Chicago, Sept. 19th, and it was a pleasure meeting you afterwards. My capetonian girlfriend welcomed meeting someone from home. We are enjoying your CD and shall look for you in the future.
Derek, this is opening heart and soul s/paces I never imagined (man, I don't even think or talk "soul" unless it's James Brown). That molecules can combine in this nasty world like this... astonishing. Thank you.
Esprit d'Afrique, sort de cet homme...!! Même si je suis très heureux de cette erreur funeste! De la guitare dans la caisse de résonance d'une Kora La musique ne se trompe jamais...
We had a privilege to listen your play which was like forest bathing, relaxing, mind opening, slow down and connect. Thank you, while your music is exceptional at Marrickville Sydney the acoustic and the lighting was substandard, you and we should be treated better.
@@DerekGripperGuitar how can one follow you? Is there a newsletter we can receive with local venues and not having to go to Canada or Hawaai🤔😬⁉️😂 My hat off to you young man. GREAT WORK♥️
Hey Derek, love your style. It's Really blown away. I travelled to West Africa 20 years ago when i was with a west African band based in the north of England. Later i studied flamenco with a gipsy master in Spain. The music of the Jalis is still very much in my heart. Blessings to you
Derek, I'll be studying this video for some time, and perhaps I even need to hit you up for a skype lesson sometime. Toumani and Ali's music are very close to my heart...maybe because I'm a singer/songwriter rather a classical guitarist, I've never been able to bring myself to transcribe any of the kora stuff so precisely, but it is truly inspiring to see how the famously mysterious sound of kora music is still mostly a matter of musical mechanics, which are of course translatable to other instruments. Incredible work.
Derek Gripper, I'm an underground singer, from Burkina Faso. I live in NY and will be very happy to meet you. You are a great guy I wish I could work with. Love the way you play the music.
Hi Derek...really awesome¡¡¡...I use to listen this concert weekly...every year I vist Cape Town btn september and October, would be a pleasure salute you and pay you some beers in Long street¡¡¡ Congratulations¡
Hi Derek. I just stumbled on your songs. I myself am from Mali (now live in UK, England in Nottingham) so I know those songs inside out since I was a kid but when I was listening to your interpretation I could see the hair on my skin straighten up of emotion!!! It literally waters my eyes, especially seeing you too sharing that emotion when you're playing. One question please... Which one(s) is/are your favorite (emotionally)? Again, thanks and keep up good work. Like many other people, I will definitely cherish this album forever.
Thank you so much. For what you mention I would have to say Tubaka or Kaira. And also the first piece which is actually a version of Tassiry Magan. This music is live a river, there are differences along the way but also not. Its a rich musical heritage - you're lucky to be part of it in this intimate way, from childhood. Love, d
Thank you Derek for your lovely work! Are the scores/sheet music available in any form for the rest of the songs? I loved the Jarabi lesson, would love to learn other songs. Thank you
Many scores are on my website and much more available to patreon supporters; details also on website. Have a lookthere then get in touch via the contact page.
You are correct! Like Cantelowes/Jarabi, Kaounding Cissoko is Toumani's twenty years later version of Alla La' A Ke. But the wonderful thing is that the version are different enough to be two new pieces, and close enough to borrow material from each other - although on guitar they are in different tunings. Pleased you enjoy!
Thanks, Derek! Saw you in Knoxville at Big Ears in March 2019. Such a thrill! Wish I could follow you around the world and document your performances - is it possible to be a “GripperHead”?
Amazing work! Thank you, thank you! Maybe your transcriptions help some people realize how virtuosic and melodically reach is the music of west Africa. Derek, in case you don't know him, it will interest you: Have you listened to D'Gary, the guitarist from Madagascar? He's phenomenal! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-m9nofGgWAmQ.html
Not at all! If I remember correctly I may have said something about elements of Elyne Road referring to a "traditional" piece. By this I was referring to what I call "re-composition" which is composition from within a framework of specific ideas and a specific musical language, but most importantly by reworking "trad" tunes in new ways (not necessary consciously). Like Bach's Ciaccona for example, or some of Salif Keita's songs. In terms of Toumani's playing Elyne Road is an expansion on the chord progression and configurations that Toumani used to create Bafoulabe (which for the life of me I cannot remember what tune this is based on). Does that help? I'm open to being told I'm talking nonsense as I just play the music and don't know much!
Derek Gripper Lucy Duran says: It's original name is Mali Sajio. (or Sajo, Sadjo). About a hippo that was friendly. But shot by a white colonial administrator, in Bafoulabe, a small sleepy town at the point where two rivers 'ba fula' meet 'ben or be'. So the song is about the pain of losing a loved one.
