Derek Gripper

Derek Gripper has earned worldwide acclaim for interpreting complex, beautiful kora compositions on the classical guitar; he has performed works by Toumani Diabaté, Ballaké Sissoko, Ali Farka Touré, and others. Always on the move to develop new directions for the guitar, Gripper is now engaged in a conversation – part improvisation, part interpretation, part composition – among the diverse genres that have informed his music to date, including Indian tabla, South African folk music, J.S. Bach’s solo violin works, and the works of Brazilian composer Egberto Gismonti. “His playing has a depthless beauty. . . ” (Songlines).

Sponsored by IU African Studies

Saturday, Sept. 20

8:50 – 10:05 pm / First Christian Church

Sunday, Sept. 21

3 – 5 pm / Buskirk-Chumley Theater, World Spirit Concert (with Arga Bileg)