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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.
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African, Classical Crossover, Guitar Virtuoso, Instrumental
Fascinating! Loved the concert! His humor in all the anecdotal narratives that he offers is so precious , and also the venue was fascinating!
Thomas Centre, Gainesville, FLI Really Loved This is my second time attending his performance I love his techniques to play the guitar
First Congregational Church of Long Beach, UCC Long Beach, CAThe place was safe. Excellent staff, very friendly and the artist was wonderful. It was a great experience.
Bayview Opera House San Francisco, CAThe mic on the oud seemed low? But the concert was lovely and Derek’s virtuosity continues to impress!
Nolan Center for the Performing Arts Washington, DCThis was an AWESOME, creative, exciting concert. I look forward to seeing andhearing more of derek gripper!
Bayview Opera House San Francisco, CAYes, Derek Gripper is currently on tour. If you're interested in attending an upcoming Derek Gripper concert, make sure to grab your tickets in advance. The Derek Gripper tour is scheduled for 5 dates across 4 cities. Get information on all upcoming tour dates and tickets for 2026-2027 with Hypebot.
Derek Gripper is scheduled to play 5 shows between 2026-2027. Buy concert tickets to a nearby show through Hypebot.
Derek Gripper's tour starts May 15, 2026 and ends on Nov 01, 2026. They will play 4 cities; their most recent concert was held in Berkeley at The Freight and their next upcoming concert will be in Seattle at Town Hall Seattle.
As part of the Derek Gripper tour, Derek Gripper is scheduled to play across the following venues and cities:
