Claude Deppa
(South Africa)
Trumpet, percussion
Claude came to England with his family from South Africa when he was about 12 years old. In London he built on his boyhood experience as a brass band trumpeter and drummer, and as a founder member of the Jazz Warriors he developed into one the UK’s most influential jazz musicians. He has been with the Grand Union Orchestra since 1984, and is well known for his work with other expatriate South African bands – e.g. Julian Bahula, Louis Moholo/Viva La Black and Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath. He also directs and composes for his own bands Horns Unlimited and African Jazz Allstars. Claude is an inspirational teacher and workshop leader, and as well as being a key member of the Grand Union workshop team, he runs the brass section of Kinetika (young musicians from across London who perform music for carnival processions).
