Fapy Lafertin

Who is Fapy Lafertin?

Fapy Lafertin is a jazz guitarist of Romani ethnicity, one of the foremost contemporary exponents of the Belgian-Dutch style of Gypsy jazz.

Lafertin was born in the Romani community of Manouches, 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 orchestra. He also toured with his uncle, Eddie Bamboula Ferret. He would later play in WASO before forming his own quintet in 1985. Lafertin later followed a solo career.

Lafertin has worked with many distinguished musicians, including Charlie Byrd, Scott Hamilton, Al Casey, Milt Hinton, violinist Tim Kliphuis and Benny Waters and Stéphane Grappelli, once Django Reinhardt's partner.