South African Guitarist Derek Gripper With Iraqi Oud Player Rahim Al-Haj, From the 2025 New York Guitar Festival

Iraqi-born, American-based composer and NEA Heritage Fellow Rahim AlHaj plays the oud, the Arab lute. Derek Gripper is a classical guitarist from South Africa who has somehow found a way to play West African music for the 21-string harp, or kora, on the six strings of his instrument. Both musicians have played in a wide variety of styles, and recently, they began playing together as a duo. Hear their duo set from the New York Guitar Festival, recorded at Kaufman Music Center’s Merkin Hall in June of 2025 and in partnership with The World Music Institute.

Set list: 

1. Derek Gripper – Fifty-Six
2. Gripper: Lindo 
3. Gripper: Tita
4.  Rahim AlHaj: Closeness