Claude Deppa was born in Cape Town, South Africa, and moved with his family to England in 1974.[2] Having learned drums as a child, he focused on trumpet and the flugahorn when at secondary school in the UK.[3]
Music career
Deppa began his professional career as a member of Dave Holdsworth’s quartet and also played with a band led by Johnny Mbizo Dyani. He was a founding member of the Jazz Warriors in London.[4] He joined Grand Union Orchestra in 1984 and has been a prominent member of the group led by Tony Haynes for over 30 years.[5]
As bandleader, Deppa has performed with, directed and composed for African Jazz Explosion, Horns Unlimited and Five Funky Fellas.[7][8] Together with saxophonist Clare Hirst, Deppa performs and composes for the Deppa Hirst Band, who have appeared live at jazz festivals in Marlborough, Ipswich and Swanage.[9]
He leads the brass and woodwind section of Kinetica Bloco, a project that celebrates the music of the African diaspora with themed summer schools and performances.[10]
Discography
The Song of Many Tongues - Grand Union Orchestra (RedGold Records, 1986)
Out Of Many, One People - Jazz Warriors (Antilles, 1987)
Country Cooking - Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath (Venture, 1988)
Louis Moholo's Viva La Black (Ogun, 1988)
Freedom Calls - Grand Union Orchestra (RedGold Records, 1989)
Welela - Miriam Makeba (Polydor, 1989)
Soft On The Inside - Andy Sheppard (Island Records, 1990)
In Co-Motion - Andy Sheppard (Antilles, 1991)
The Very Big Carla Bley Band - Carla Bley (WATT, 1991)
Rhythm Method - Andy Sheppard (Blue Note International, 1993)
Delivery Suite - Andy Sheppard (Blue Note International, 1993)
Big Band Theory - Carla Bley (WATT, 1993)
The Rhythm of Tides - Grand Union Orchestra (RedGold Records, 1997)