With incredible guitarist Derek Gripper in Paris 2018 - The Lost Interview!

[@MichaelWatts]

Hello everyone, I really hope you enjoy this conversation with the mighty @DerekGripper - he's one of my favourite musicians and his playing will melt your face!

[@leonpetersen7346]

Oh absolutely....one of my favourite players....not least of all because he can really interpret Bach like noone else...a genius, in my book...had the privilege of listening to him play an entire small room concert from 6 feet away....

[@CamsCampbell]

What a wonderful interview. I'm just finding Derek's music now after a fellow pupil of Will McNicol's mentioned him in a Zoom call last night. I can't believe I didn't know of him before. I'm having a blast! I'm glad you found your micro SD card, Michael. They are indeed fiddley wee buggers.

[@Darren-D.C-Cross]

Thank you for sharing. Derek is great. Greetings from Australia.

[@andorrasrevenge1683]

Only M Watts could get Derek to nerd out in talking guitars! Awesome!

[@dudleybarker2273]

Derek is a national treasure

[@MichaelWatts]

Damn right

[@lyndontaylor1380]

Michael, I'll forever have a debt of gratitude to you for introducing me to this wondrous musician. A revelation to me. A life changing discovery, thank you!

[@MichaelWatts]

You’re very welcome Lyndon! Derek is a treasure isn’t he?

[@lyndontaylor1380]

@@MichaelWatts The Mali influenced albums he's made are like nothing I've ever heard before on guitar. I'm also fascinated by the Montessori influenced teaching he does online. Might spend a few groats on it in the hope I'll be able to play at least a pale imitation of Jarabi. Wonderful music!

[@bbumble4117]

Delightful - fun, informative and inspirational. I love Derek’s Malian music. One of my favourite brain cleansers is to drive round North Yorkshire in the (ever present) rain listening to “One Night on Earth”.

[@MichaelWatts]

I can fully appreciate the joys of driving around North Yorkshire in the rain and listening to one night on earth. I haven’t yet tried them at the same time though but I’m looking forward to an opportunity!

[@tristram6395]

This is fantastic - thank you so much to you both.

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you Tris!

[@dennismenezes9423]

Love Derek's music Thanks for that ! (hope that one day he will do the ten strings project, hehe)

[@MichaelWatts]

Yes me too! Thank you for watching Dennis!

[@davidmontague1666]

An absolutely wonderful and hilarious interview. What a brain and what an amazing talent. Thank you Michael for bringing this interview to our attention. I'm still trying to digest all that Mr Gripper described of his tuning requirements during the course of his journey. With thanks and kindest regards, David Montague.

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you David, I’m very happy you enjoyed the interview! Derek is such a wonderful musician, we’ve hung out several times since and it’s a joy every time!

[@nigel4648]

What a lovely guy and such a great interview. Thanks for that Michael, so glad it didn't end up on the cutting floor!

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you Nigel! I’m really glad you enjoyed it!

[@jacsvihus]

I was enjoyed the conversation thoroughly. Were there more, I would happily watch. It cut off abruptly. Solid gold for this guitar geek! Thank you.

[@MichaelWatts]

I think there has been a problem with KZbin this evening Jeff - try again in a couple of hours, I hope you enjoy the full interview!

[@jacsvihus]

​@@MichaelWatts excellent. until then I will continue my practice of playing, searching for little kernels of gold in the cold swirling river of notes.

[@MichaelWatts]

@@jacsvihus it’s the best way!

[@Bernd_Boeckmann]

Really enjoyed this conversation, Michael!

[@MichaelWatts]

Thank you Bernd! I’m very glad to hear it!

[@ChristopherRowlands]

A room full of Hausers!

[@MichaelWatts]

A ROOM full of Hausers!

[@ChristopherRowlands]

@@MichaelWatts , that DEFINITELY does it justice! Back to my Córdoba and dreaming.

[@vedicapproach8105]

He said the Cora tuning is a lute tuning with a drop D? Are you guys familiar with that tuning?

[@MichaelWatts]

I think that’s the tuning that Derek is most comfortable using, I haven’t experimented with that sort of thing yet!

[@vedicapproach8105]

@@MichaelWatts sounds exactly like Cora in his hands. do you know the notes? Btw, I love everything your doing. Thanks so much for the education and inspiration brother!