Derek Gripper

11/19/22 • 82 min

Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman

The internationally renowned 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.

Please help me keep this podcast going: https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman

The video and transcript are linked here: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/derek-gripper

https://www.derekgripper.com/

Timestamps:

(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

Please help me keep this podcast going: https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman

The video and transcript are linked here: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/derek-gripper

https://www.derekgripper.com/

Timestamps:

photo: Luke Young

Previous Episode

Inspiring Excerpts with Roddy Ellias: Flow, Martial Arts, and Rock bands!

This is a short bonus episode in my "Inspiring Excerpts" series, with the wonderful jazz guitarist and composer Roddy Ellias.

The full episode is here, both video and podcast: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/e12-s1-roddy-ellias-guitarist-and-composer

You'll get to hear some great stories from Roddy's early career in touring rock bands, connections between martial arts and music, and how he teaches students to get into the feel of flow. Guitar enthusiasts, you’ll be happy to know that this series will soon be featuring quite a few more guitarists and also specialists in other plucked instruments. . I hope you enjoy these in-depth and wide-ranging conversations, and that your curiosity is stimulated for music that may be new to you. Please support this podcast with a tip! https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman

Roddy Ellias website: https://www.roddyellias.com/

photo: Evan Shaw

Next Episode

Leslie DeShazor

Leslie DeShazor is a multi-style violist, violinist and composer based in Detroit. She teaches students both through the Sphinx Organization and the Detroit Symphony as well as privately. She was named one of thirty Professional Movers and Shakers in the Performing Arts by Musical America in 2019 and in 2022 she released her jazz and R&B album “Journey With Me” which features herself as soloist, bandleader, and composer.

Towards the beginning of this episode you’ll hear her composition “Simply Complicated” from “Journey With Me”. This conversation was full of stories and insights from Leslie’s life. She shared valuable perspectives that educators, parents and anyone who mentors children and young adults will find inspiring and thought-provoking. We talked a lot about why kids quit playing music, why so many young adults today have trouble figuring out the direction of their life, and how the educational system can take away people’s innate creativity and confidence. Leslie is such an articulate and engaging speaker; I’m sure listeners everywhere will enjoy this episode! The musicians on Simply Complicated are: Nate Winn - drums, Brendon Davis - piano Brandon Rose - bass Photo: Bruce Turner

Please support this series! https://ko-fi.com/leahroseman

Video and Transcript: https://www.leahroseman.com/episodes/leslie-deshazor

Leslie DeShazor website: https://lesliedeshazor.com/

Complete Catalog of Episodes: ⁠⁠https://www.leahroseman.com/about⁠⁠

Newsletter sign-up: ⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/ebed4a237788/podcast-newsletter⁠⁠

Timestamps:

(00:00) Cold open quote plus Intro

(02:00) album Journey With Me, accepting help

(06:16) differences playing acoustic and electric instruments

(07:30) intro to tune “Simply Complicated”

(13:25) Leslie’s childhood musical pranks, growing up in Inkster and Canton

(16:10) the importance of Detroit in many different musical genres

(18:36) the influence and importantce of church music

(22:47) Interlochen, perspectives on exposing kids to a competitive atmosphere

(32:43) Leslie’s approach to coaching student ensembles

(36:14) Leslie’s history going to Orchestra Hall, continuity and history of Detroit

(40:52) parenting, guiding children in music

(42:37) University of Michigan and Wayne State college experiences, James Dapogny, how to guide students, the importance of helping music students with options

(51:00) dealing with injury

(53:06) different cultures through dance, learning Spanish, teaching with Sphinx

(56:14) Sphinx organization

(01:03:10) Musique Noire, Eunoia Society, JoVia Armstrong

(01:04:45) problem with labels in music, colonial attitudes

(01:10:44) teaching music using different strategies

(01:16:35) challenges in guiding students

(01:19:53) students who are over-scheduled, the benefits of allowing time for creativity and play

(01:25:42) Cole Randolph taking time off and motivation

(01:26:42) dealing with stress through exercise, jumping rope, keeping balance

(01:30:00) freelance life stress

(01:31:18) teaching body percussion, benefits of community music making, learning from other educators