One Night on Earth: Music from the Strings of Mali, by Derek Gripper

One Night on Earth: Music from the Strings of Mali

by Derek Gripper

supported by

Tom Landon At first, the basic posit of the album might (indeed, does ;-) seem weird: a South African classical guitarist playing Malian kora music - but the result is unique and magical, transposed respectfully but passionately to the guitar by Derek Gripper, whose skill matches his love of this music. I also recommend the live video 'proof' on Youtube. Favorite track: Jarabi (Passion).

more...

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

The liner notes written by Derek Gripper are also available for free download.

Purchasable with gift card

£6.99 GBP or more
Full Digital Discography

16

releases

Get all 16 Matsuli Music releases available on Bandcamp and save 50%.

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Rufaro, Harari, Spring, Dudu Phukwana and the "Spears", Jump Uptight, Live in Lesotho, Witchdoctor's Son, Mzansi Afro Jazz & Roots - Matsuli Label Sampler, and 8 more. , and , .

Purchasable with gift card

£66.93 GBP or more (50% OFF)

1.	Jarabi (Passion) 06:38	buy track
2.	Kaira (Peace) 05:27	buy track
3.	Kaounding Cissoko 04:25	buy track
4.	Elyne Road 03:18	buy track
5.	Djourou Kara Nany 04:24	buy track
6.	Konkoba (Peace) 04:42	buy track
7.	Tubaka (Love) 05:36	buy track

about

Matsuli Music presents an album of kora interpretations that astonished John Williams into saying he thought it was “absolutely impossible until I heard Derek Gripper do it”. When Kora maestro Toumani Diabate heard these recordings he disbelievingly asked his host and producer Lucy Duran to confirm that she had actually seen one guitarist play this music on just one guitar. Recorded at an all-night session Gripper’s guitar magically counjures anew a centuries-old ancient African musical heritage.

One Night on Earth: Music from the Strings of Mali, captures Gripper’s extraordinary six-string interpretation of Toumani Diabate’s 21-string Kora compositions. Gripper’s “guitar has found the Kora-playing spirit, he captures the magic bound up in the way it is played”, says Williams, who has invited Gripper back a second time to collaborate in “The John Williams Series” at the Globe Theatre, London in June 2015.

For more than ten years Derek Gripper has produced some of South Africa’s most extraordinary musical works, fusing the country’s disparate creative traditions with styles from around the world. His music draws on European classical traditions, avant-garde Brazilian works, Malian kora works, Cape Town’s folk styles such as goema and vastrap, and Indian classical music, all the while synthesising them into a style uniquely his own.

Tim Panting writing in the Classical Guitar Magazine describes this as “…one of the most atmospheric recordings of guitar music, of any kind, that I have heard.” And in music journalist Richard Haslop’s words “Anybody wondering why one would want to hear a South African guitarist play this music when the incomparable original recordings are available, need only listen to this album.”

Originally only available on CD, Matsuli Music is proud to be releasing this breakthrough album on heavyweight vinyl in a deluxe limited edition with accompanying sleeve-notes from Derek Gripper.

credits

released May 10, 2015

Recorded by Howard Butcher at Rivendel Church, Knysna
Mixed and Mastered at Peace of Eden Studios, Knysna, South Africa Produced by Derek Gripper for New Cape Records
Cover photo by Simon Attwell and Kim Winter
Reverse photo by Bernard Descamps / Agence VU
Design by Twoshoes Graphic Designers, Cape Town, South Africa Guitar arrangements by Derek Gripper
All compositions by Toumani Diabate. Track A2 Copyright Control. All other tracks published by BMG Rights Management UK.

2015 vinyl edition produced by Matt Temple and Chris Albertyn
at Matsuli Music Limited.

license

about

Matsuli Music UK

classic south african jazz and grooves

contact / help

Contact Matsuli Music

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this album or account

If you like One Night on Earth: Music from the Strings of Mali, you may also like:

Universal Beings
by Makaya McCraven

supported by 22 fans who also own “One Night on Earth: Music from the Strings of Mali”

I love collective improvisations and this music goes straight to heart and brain guska2
go to album
Wisdom of Elders
by Shabaka And The Ancestors

supported by 20 fans who also own “One Night on Earth: Music from the Strings of Mali”

rolled right out of meditation into "joyeous mamparan
go to album
When The World Was One
by Matthew Halsall & The Gondwana Orchestra

supported by 18 fans who also own “One Night on Earth: Music from the Strings of Mali”

Makes you swing during the working hours, feet stamping along, smile one your face, good vibrations, ... Pascal Ennaert
go to album
MANGROVES EP
by PYRAMID PROJECT feat Contours

Nairobi’s Pyramic Project fuses Afrobeat with electronic rhythms for explosive songs full of power and punch. Bandcamp New & Notable Nov 15, 2020
go to album
The Loud Minority
by Frank Foster

featured on Bandcamp Radio Sep 15, 2020
go to album
The Search
by Collocutor

featured on Bandcamp Radio Jan 17, 2017
go to album
Nubya's 5ive
by Nubya Garcia

supported by 16 fans who also own “One Night on Earth: Music from the Strings of Mali”

The drum solos on either of the "Hold" tracks are a thing to behold. Had to pick one though. PabstBlueRibbonOysterCult
go to album