Fapy Lafertin was born into the Manouche-Gypsy-Community in Courtraie (Belgium). Already at young age he starts to play all kinds of instruments. Around 1969 he begins to play the typical "Hot Club de France"-Repertoire together with the "Piotto Orchestra".
In the late 70ies and early 1980ies he is accompaning the "WASO Group" with Koen de Cauter (Cl.), which became so popular that it was strongly involved by the newly widespread of Django's Hot Club Jazz-Sound within these years.After he left the group in 1989 he started his solo-carreer, playing with Bigbands and famous Jazzmusicians in England.
In this period he joined and accompanied people like Charlie Byrd, Scott Hamilton, Al Casey, Benny Waters and Milt Hinton. Also he played concerts with Stéphane Grappelli in Glasgow. From then on he is an absolute authority and highly accepted in the Jazzscene.
Already in 1985 he started his own Quintett in the netherlands, inspired by the Sound of Django Reinhardt's famous 1930ies Bandsetup. The "Fapy Lafertin Quintett" ever since featured many different artists like Rudi Brink and Joop Hendrickx.
Since 2001 Fapy has found an old love again: portugisian 12-string-guitar.
Fapy Lafertin is worldwide known as a great composer, writing many classical tunes and he is more or less a friend of the silent, melodical and peaceful notes.
Fapy is a very funny and entertaining character who, regardless of his fame, kept his feet down to the ground still always beeing a friendly and humble person.
Discography
-
Fleur d'Ennui (Timeless Records, Netherlands, 2001)
-
Star Eyes (String Jazz, England, 2000)
-
Hungaria feat. Bob Wilber (Le Jazz, England, 1996)
-
Swing Guitars (Le Jazz, England, 1995)
-
Aurore (Studio 88, Netherlands, 1993)
-
Fleur de Lavende (Hot Club Records, Norway, 1990)
Back to JazzManouche-Masters
