Artist
Don Vappie's voice and banjo: the living Creole sound of New Orleans.
“The banjo has a Jimi Hendrix.”
With David Horniblow on clarinet, Dave Kelbie on guitar and Sébastien Girardot on double bass, Jazz Créole explores the remarkable sound of New Orleans's early string bands. The banjo supplies drive and sparkle; blues-inflected guitar, lyrical clarinet and supple double bass form an intimate, deeply swinging conversation. Creole songs, traditional jazz, blues, spirituals, Caribbean influences and Don's own compositions bring different sides of that musical history to life.
Behind the elegance lies a bold rhythmic idea: tracing the connections between early string-band pulse, second-line rhythms and the grooves that later shaped New Orleans R&B and funk. Joyful, generous and unmistakably personal, this is living Creole music performed by four musicians who know how to tell a story together.
New Orleans banjoist, vocalist and composer; a leading contemporary voice of Creole music.
New Orleans musician Don Vappie is internationally revered for his mastery of Creole music, classic jazz and traditional banjo. His playing blends rhythmic sophistication, melodic inventiveness and an expressive vocal style that highlight his unique position within the living jazz tradition of Louisiana. A skilled bandleader, composer and educator, Vappie brings authority and warmth to every ensemble he leads.
His collaborations with musicians such as Wynton Marsalis, Evan Christopher, Howard Alden and numerous European groups have made him a familiar presence on major international stages. Vappie's artistry honours the work of Danny Barker and the Creole banjo lineage while expanding it with contemporary nuance.
Soulful, inventive and deeply rooted, Don Vappie stands as one of the most distinctive voices in New Orleans music today.
A concert built around Don Vappie's expressive voice, celebrated banjo playing and gift for storytelling. The quartet's clarinet, guitar and double bass create the warm, agile sound of a New Orleans string band, opening a world of Creole songs, early jazz, blues, Caribbean rhythms and original music. An ideal invitation for jazz festivals, theatres and programmes exploring the living culture of New Orleans.
“He can start the party with his banjo — he sure can!”
“Don Vappie is not only a fine banjo virtuoso, but also a delightful singer.”
For presenters
Don Vappie & Jazz Créole
booking@longplay.media
