Derek Gripper: Guitar, Kora, and the Art of Listening (re-release)
Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman
08/11/25
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This was originally released in 2022. The internationally renowned South African guitarist Derek Gripper is famous for his groundbreaking technique for evoking the West African kora on the guitar. During this episode you’ll get to hear Derek play quite a bit and you will hear his wonderful insights on how we listen to and learn music, the influence of Montessori and Alexander Technique in his life, his reflections on important collaborations in his career and his perspectives on changes that have been imposed on creators and performers.
My website for the video and transcript
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(00:00:00) Introduction (00:01:45) Bach guitar music with intro (00:04:00) carnatic music studies, album with tabla player Udai Mazumdar (00:06:12) structural improvisation, Bach (00:08:18) Alexander Technique (00:15:28) violin studies (00:16:24) Derek's recording approach (00:20:30) “Billly Goes to Durban” (00:21:28) kora music, Toumani Diabaté (00:25:18) “Tubaka” guitar music (00:26:36) Derek’s transcriptions, Zoom classes (00:30:12) online music economy, Derek’s experiences with selling albums, Platoon label (00:35:35) Montessori method and teaching guitar (00:39:38) "A Year of Swimming" (00:41:34) Alex Van Heerden, “Sagtevlei”, Steve Reich, Bryan Bolton (00:45:36) Guy Buttery and different collaborations (00:48:12) South Africa and COVID’s economic ramifications (00:49:43) Madosini (00:52:06) World Music as a genre and marketing tool (00:58:23) Derek’s style of performing (01:00:31) mental health, touring, mindset with Alexander Technique inhibition and internal resistance (01:04:42) "Seeing Nobody" guitar music (01:07:00) reflections on Derek’s career, being South African, John Williams, Lucy Duran (01:11:30) Derek’s guitars, Paul Galbraith Brahms guitar, “Bloomdorns”, Hermann Hauser, just intonation and bending notes, oud, lute, veena, (01:17:36) Derek’s advice and reflections on too much input
photo: Luke Young
Previous Episode
I'm re-releasing this episode, because my improvising ensemble Collected Strands have just released our second album, Volume 2, also with beautiful cover art by Maryanne Moodie.
This is a special episode of my podcast, celebrating Volume 1 with my improvising ensemble Collected Strands. The other musicians in the group have all been featured previously on this series, and you’ll find the links to those episodes below, with cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne, pianist James McGowan and drummer Mike Essoudry. I’m also delighted that you will get to know the inspiring Australian artist, educator and author Maryanne Moodie who’s woven art graces the cover of this album. You’ll find the link to her work as well. I am also releasing the interview with Maryanne as a separate stand-alone bonus episode connected to this episode. I feel that all my listeners who love music and creativity will find that Maryanne’s personal journey and perspectives will resonate strongly with them, and I hope some listeners in the weaving and art world will also be inspired by the musicians!
We are including excerpts from the album during this episode, and you can listen to both albums here: Bandcamp
To listen to my individual episodes with the members of the group, head over to my website where you'll also find the video and transcript of this episode.
photo of Collected Strands: Curtis Perry
cold open with Raphael Weinroth-Browne (00:47) excerpt from Solace, Volume 1 Collected Strands (01:45) intro about the episode, Maryanne Moodie (03:45) James and Leah talk about recording the album, the process of improvising (07:35) intro to Unsettled Night with excerpt (10:16) group discussion, Mike Essoudry using bass bow, creative process in improvisation (12:20) percussive, random textures intro to Chaotic Kittens with excerpt (15:15) Mike and James on creative process (19:25)James and Leah on putting the album together, choosing titles, intro to Baroquinerie with clip (23:58) Raph’s perspectives on improvisation, group discussion (34:52) Leah and James genres, improvised chamber music, intro to Summer’s Eve with clip (38:03) Interview with artist Maryanne Moodie: her start in weaving, writing her books, nurturing our creativity creating commissions, how the audience takes in art, the community of weavers (55:09) ways you can support this podcast (56:03) group discussion, audiences (01:00:37) comments on The Long Journey Home and Summer’s Eve, A Simple Magic with clip
Next Episode
Originally released in 2022: Tracy Silverman is truly an inspiring musician in every respect and it was such an honour to meet him and be able to record this memorable episode! This interview is also available as a video; the transcript is also linked on my website
We talked about his classical roots, studying with legendary teachers Lewis Kaplan and Ivan Galamian, his rejection of the classical world and his fascinating career, through his years in rock bands, we even talked about some of his early gigs, including learning the ropes as a strolling violinist, getting the job as first violinist of the innovative Turtle Island string quartet, and the development of his Strum Bowing method.
We talked about many musicians, including some of his collaborators and mentors including Terry Riley, Darol Anger, Roy “Futureman” Wooten, Mark Wood, and composers Roberto Sierra and John Adams. In this conversation one of the many topics we covered was the new concerto writtten for Tracy called “Ficciones” by Roberto Sierra.
Finally, we dived into his creative process, how music affects our emotions, and how to stay open by listening to others, and learning to show up as ourselves.
Please help me keep this podcast going! Podcast merch
(00:00:00) Intro
(00:03:29) Concerto "Ficciones" by Roberto Sierra, premiered with the American Symphony Orchestra
(00:07:13) Tracy's 6-string electric violin built by Joe Glazer with demonstrations, and more about "Ficciones"
(00:14:14) Tracy's support system for the instrument, progression from classical violinist through his rock days
(00:22:37) Lewis Kaplan
(00:25:25) Ivan Galamian
(00:28:40) Tracy's approach to Bach
(00:32:04) Tracy's childhood, improv and composition
(00:36:17) "Ficciones" "Between the Kiss and the Chaos"
(00:40:51) Turtle Island String Quartet and career advice
(00:44:35) Strolling violin gigs, wedding singer
(00:47:41) John Adams, "Dharma at Big Sur", solo recital versions of concerti
(00:50:00) Looping with demo
(00:57:27) Album "Beats and Jams" with son "Toby Beats"
(01:02:11)Terry Riley
(01:24:03) process of improvisation, Strum bowing different styles
(01:17:47) Egberto Gismonti, Darol Anger
(01:22:00) teaching, strum bowing in school music programs
(01:24:43)Turtle Island String Quartet, Darol Anger and the origin of strum bowing
(01:28:08) music affects our emotions
(01:32:10) Roy "Futureman" Wooten, positive mindset
(01:37:30) challenges with the 2020 lockdowns
(01:44:35) commission for "Ficciones" with different orchestras
(01:46:22)Tracy's mission with string playing, practicing, advice
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