Fapy Lafertin

Fapy Lafertin (born Kortrijk, Belgium, 1950) is one of the foremost contemporary exponents of the Belgian-Dutch style of gypsy jazz.Lafertin was born in a Romani community of Manouche gypsies and took up guitar at the age of five. After performing in a family band with his father on violin and his brother on second guitar, he joined the Piotto Limberger orchestra. He also toured with his uncle, Eddie Ferret.In the 1970s and '80s he played with the band WASO, with Albert Vivi Limberger on drums and Michel Verstraeten on triple bass. In 1985 he began a quartet which has featured Rudi Brink, Tim Kliphuis, and Joop Hendricks. He based the quartet on the Quintette du Hot Club de France. He began a solo career and toured throughout Europe and the UK. He has played with American jazz musicians such as Charlie Byrd, Al Casey, Scott Hamilton, Milt Hinton, and Benny Waters. Briefly he performed with Stéphane Grappelli.Lafertin has used the 12-string guitarra, combining Portuguese fado and Brazilian samba with the music of Reinhardt, Duke Ellington, and the Great American Songbook in his repertoire.