Derek Gripper: NPR Music Tiny Desk Concert

[@jankrebs2882]

Incredible music. I had bought his Sound of Water CD in South Africa about 10 years ago. When I lost it together with my backpack and could not find a new one in stores, Mr Gripper sent me one of the few he had left. Incredibly nice person as well!

[@nommomuntu]

I'm a huge fan of traditional kora from Mali and before I even read the description, as I was listening to this guy, I thought "He sounds just like Toumani Diabete or Ballake Sissoko!" Very cool that he figured out how to play like this on a guitar.

[@LautariTchavo]

What a discovery the musical intensity of this guy! Bringing the magic of great mother Kora to his guitar. Just amazing. 💜

[@DelScully]

I could listen to this guy all day..

[@unautremondeaudela]

My god. It makes my soul fly high and wide. Amazing. Thanks.

[@amberr2033]

as I listen to this and watch the snow fall I feel the need to draw. this here is the most beautiful way to start my morning thank you.

[@Thomas.deLisle]

Beautiful playing and music! I cannot wait for his performance next month

[@phjmez]

this is the most inspiring thing ive seen in a long while

[@dkbestbuds]

Simply delightful. Amazing. NPR thank you for sharing!!

[@Bobouwehand]

Jarabi is such a beautiful song.

[@garyhosty]

astonishing to play koro tunes..24 stringed African harp..on a guitar...wonderful stuff.

[@martinevans75]

Great job representing South Africa Derek

[@neon_dex42]

That makes so much sense now. I was busy thinking to myself how African his rhythms and melodies sound. Amazing talent.

[@wilfreddamon1971]

?

[@martijnlovesbach]

Do you mean Mali?

[@martinevans75]

@@martijnlovesbach no. He is South African. That’s what I meant.

[@dcosta912]

​yeah he's from south africa but this era of his inspiration comes from Mali @@martinevans75

[@EleneDOM]

Impressive, and original. I just want to note that tablature is used for a lot of instruments, with the Renaissance vihuela being perhaps less well known than some others. Modern guitarists and ukulele players as well as lutenists and Baroque guitarists and viola da gamba players are among those who often used tablature. There's nothing unusual about it and it's not strange that Gripper decided to use tab instead of regular notation for writing down these pieces. I had to chuckle at "fretting the strings up and down the neck with his left hand"-- yup, that's pretty much how the guitar is played! I love kora music and this really makes me want to give Gripper's style a try on the guitar.

[@doro2067]

始まって30秒でgoodを押しました。素晴らしいです。 クラシックというよりキース・ジャレットのインプロヴィゼーションのような湧き出る音の泉という印象を受けました。

[@saineydrammeh9035]

Excellent job, Derek.

[@mainstreammedialies9671]

AMAZING PERFORMANCE!! 👍

[@ZerinaPhillip]

Beautiful!!

[@Lo.Renzomusic]

Brilliant playing..!!

[@thierryklein6851]

Extra ... Super musicien et "être" humain humble et magnifique....

[@jom9352]

Absolutely beautiful! Great and original playing...a true artist, very moving :)

[@OthersOrSomething]

the hammer-on pull-off force is strong in this one

[@chrisl.1053]

Such dynamic playing.

[@eddyc4603]

Cover this man in gold.

[@nickrobinson2023]

Amazing sound and great control of all the dynamics. Thanks for sharing.

[@GaragePie22]

As a South African this makes me so proud! Amazing muso!

[@howardmao3331]

"Earlier this year, Gripper finally made it to Mali, where his efforts received the blessing of Toumani Diabate himself; the two even jammed together." Oh come on. Please tell me someone recorded this.

[@jannousaukema1666]

It was recorded, on video as well. I'm still to see or hear it though, I think derek is keeping it close to his chest for now...

[@kevinlong4657]

really love his playing. awesome.

[@davidcomunello1678]

For guitarist ( tune for Jarabi) D-A-D-F#-B-E

[@khen9478]

Wonderful Sir

[@kristaselene]

Very good.

[@Tom-Lahaye]

Fantastic playing, these songs are a lot harder on guitar than the instrument they were intended for. The right hand has to do all what two hands do on the kora, and the other hand does the tuning (fretting the notes), while the kora has fixed tuning.

[@jpierresltn3115]

Amazing !

[@carloscortegoso7699]

It is real la amazing the fact of fullfill the stage only with one guitar, and dont miss anything at all!!. Lately, I am loving more and more the nylon strings sound...even I am restringing all my acoustic guitars with nylon folk strings and playing similar things we are listening in this video....but I not in his level...bu far, I afraid. His playing reminds me a bit to José González tunes...he al was in NPR as well!!!....just...love it!!!

[@craggerrs]

Great stuff, South Africa really needs more quality musicians like this guy

[@harrytwomey1386]

South Africa has quality musicians unlike this guy.

[@craggerrs]

@@harrytwomey1386 It may not be to your taste, but he is an excellent musician. What south african musicians do you believe to be better? Not trying to prove a point, just looking to learn.

[@handleOfThy]

Wheres the second guitarrist >:(!? :D awesome playingm, loving the fingerstyle!

[@KingStreetBluegrass]

An incredible virtuoso!

[@bilithekid5125]

I'm watching this and it's 5am and wooow that's amazing

[@AghiaSophiaCh]

enchanting...

[@kevinfager.]

When did Vince Vaughn begin his music career?

[@gianfranco2852]

Brilliant.

[@ss-fi9du]

WOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

[@michael1william]

I’m in love

[@Aida_007]

This is soo beautiful❤❤❤ new fan

[@ShenFM]

at minute 7m44s I could just loop that riff and trip for days!

[@Torin_by_the_Ocean]

Awesome.

[@fiercemildband]

awesome, very interesting

[@АнтонСкиндерев]

this is amazing. good job!

[@SteveCunningham007]

Brilliant!

[@Ma_rkw589]

what a dude

[@veloopity]

fantastic and inspiring

[@Adrianoptero]

Wonderful

[@segdatv8019]

Simply Wowwwww

[@user-ji6ze9pb2w]

This remainds me of Norwegian folk music...

[@plum_line]

What kind of stuff specifically? Have you heard kantele performers? I want to hear someone play kora music on a kantele.

[@victorviknis3699]

very good 😍♡♬

[@rinosefe]

Death Grips Tiny Desk!

[@AghiaSophiaCh]

wow wow wow

[@takai358]

jarabi is such a lovely song, do you know the version of sona jobarteh? excellent!

[@Will-wp2cp]

Are the sides and back Brazilian Rosewood? Looks like it- beautiful instrument.

[@spicebd3982]

Nice Video.

[@0v3rgr0wn]

It's all about getting the thumb steady then learning to add the other fingers..

[@PhaseLockedLoop]

Always wished someone would figure out the Kora style on guitar! Cool

[@jangojebo2542]

dude that's crazy

[@abdoulsalamondiallodiallo7535]

Tre bon cool guitariste

[@joseespinoza6283]

Limpia ejecución de complejas e interesantes melodías.

[@lucianomedina8643]

You guys should bring in some marimba players

[@vladimir.osolinski]

wow !

[@HappiestSadGuy]

But does he djent?

[@DelScully]

LOL

[@cameronolson3103]

At times, it would seem so...

[@stokevomitspit8151]

❤

[@JazzyFlowers]

Jarabi 💕💙❤️

[@abdulazizbakhashwain6264]

Please get John Butler!

[@deadasamau5]

How about you change a few of those letters and get Death Grips in here? Great performance by the way

[@segdatv8019]

You guys please tell me where I can meet this guy

[@MsLiboma]

Musthafa SEGDA he is based in Cape Town South Africa 🇿🇦

[@carloscortegoso7699]

Answering to Alt Esc, I guess it is a 7/8 body classical guitar...and I think is is not standard tunning...clase to the standard...but 100%...perhaps drop D,G...or something, anyway sounds amazing.

[@antony558]

For jarabi I think its standard with the G tuned down half a step to F#. There is a video lesson he did on it with is really good

[@mashaisnthere1636]

you guys should invite cave town. he's great !

[@enenemenene]

How does the d string buzz in the first song? Is the capo a bit loose or something?

[@BagelBagelBagel]

oh shit

[@trevorflack2581]

Can y'all please get Mac Demarco to do one of these he'd kill this

[@MulletKid]

Yeah, Mac Demarco doesnt get enough exposure lol.

[@JorgeFernandoPombo-zs6mj]

Kora

[@0v3rgr0wn]

What tuning is he in?

[@RobReidGuitar]

nope. that's a standard sized classical guitar. with a capo on the 3rd fret and some sort of open tuning.

[@seanadams7407]

Its DADF#AE I believe. Very similar to Jose Gonzalez's tunings.

[@0v3rgr0wn]

Thank you Sean.

[@lcfpvrfmubp]

Actually, I think its DADF#BA, you can tell by how he plays Jarabi. Its also a few cents off, which is purposeful.

[@iamtombh]

Haha, yeah you corrected the A to a B but the high E is a normal high E, not a high A, I assume that's a typo? I learnt Jarabi from the tab (and a skype from Derek!) and the tuning is DADF#BE

[@highwayghost900]

is this spanish tuning?

[@matthias.hess1]

What tuning is that...?!

[@satchserra89]

Anyone know the tuning?

[@Unthanks2024]

I guess it's fun to watch people do their rudiments

[@LuiPorBen]

There's a high voice in the background, a second guitar also. That make me conclude the audio is edited.

[@MyBoatsTheyGo]

The high voice you hear is him humming, and there's only one guitar.

[@samuelbarnes8208]

that's a kora piece isn't it

[@bjl11663]

A magnificent concert, and how unfortunate that it had to be marred by the gratuitous slam against "dead white men" in the show notes.

[@BeckyRachel-y5l]

Davis Thomas Moore Anthony Rodriguez Jeffrey

[@LucasJKey]

Bring back Gucci.

[@dannywamuya]

How about you don't write Trad. Arr and actually credit the composers....NPR you are better than this

[@plum_line]

I guess they thought it would be fun for classical guitarists. You know, see the familiar pedantic music stuff that makes people feel like it's academic and Real Art ®.

[@argybarg]

A lot of the tunes are traditional Malian tunes, so there is no composer to credit.

[@argybarg]

@@georgec527 Maybe. He's been awfully respectful towards Toumani Diabete, honoring him as a great composer and performer, etc. If he weren't giving Diabete as much credit as he does I would feel less favorably towards him.

[@dwebster50]

Well done, its just Not a style I enjoy to listen to

[@thomaskittock2866]

Dave Webster What style do you prefer?

[@maraviyoso8473]

Probably Gangsta Rap

[@kadin7852]

@@maraviyoso8473 ur annoying.

[@maraviyoso8473]

@@kadin7852 and you're an idi.ot

[@cameronbrwdway9486]

Guy is pretentious as hell but he's good.

[@leonpetersen7346]

LO LOL LOL....he would roll on the ground at this comment..... He's the most down to earth guy ever......he just has a real wicked sense of humour.......humble as heck

[@marianonetorc]

yamandu costa >>>>> this guys... get the real deal with yamandu!

[@mainstreammedialies9671]

Mariano Neto Oi Bro! Ilumina esse uruguaio aquí: quém é Yamandú Costa? muito obrigado

[@marianonetorc]

Um violinista brasileiro, incrível por sinal

[@mainstreammedialies9671]

Valeu, ia ia to indo procurar por ele. Todo de bom nesse 2017!! 👍

[@croay]

Mas a música do Derek não tem nada a ver com a do Yamandu hahah, para que comparar, e comparar o quê?

[@skinblanketed]

Mariano Neto yo. I had no idea who Yumandu Costa was until I read your comment and checked him out. Holy. Shit. That dude is legitimately the most incredible guitar player I've ever seen in my life. That said, my dudes Yumandu and Derek are not even close to attempting to play the same kinda music. You're comparing a giraffe to a fighter jet and I think you know which is which. Thanks for the rec, muchacho! I'll be listening to Yamandu Costa for the rest of my life!

[@MethenySco]

I like the music, but not so much the tone...

[@harrytwomey1386]

The music is not much to begin with. The tone is sh!t.

[@Unthanks2024]

the fuck? not much structure here, not even a progression

[@frankfeldman6657]

sufficient technique, no content, absolutely no content, yikes

[@plum_line]

Like, he didn't bring anything new? Or there is no emotion? What content was lacking?

[@argybarg]

This is an absolutely ridiculous comment. What is wrong with your ears?

[@bhekumuzigwala]

Fantastic

[@itsmylife8639]

Awesome.

[@local-teen]

Wonderful.

[@vincentpietersen460]

Amazing

[@Elghoutob]

Amazing