A master of the banjo, Don is equally fluent on bass, guitar, and vocals, performing with unmatched authenticity across a wide range of ensembles. As Wynton Marsalis’s go-to banjo player, a Banjo Hall of Fame inductee, and recipient of the prestigious Steve Martin Banjo Prize, Don has played with the greats while carving out a legacy all his own. Whether leading a band or contributing to a larger ensemble, Don Vappie embodies the rich, living tradition of New Orleans music like no other.
Don Vappie, a New Orleans native and Creole master of the tenor banjo, is set to bring his award‑winning New Orleans banjo style to Denmark this fall. Vappie—inducted into the American Banjo Museum’s Hall of Fame in 2022 and recipient of the 2021 Steve Martin Banjo Prize—will perform throughout Denmark as part of Finn Burich’s internationally touring New Orleans jazz ensemble
Don Vappie, musician / composer / educator, is highly regarded as jazz banjoist and has received awards for his contributions to the preservation of New Orleans creole culture through music and film. He has produced 7 of his own albums, co-produced and starred in a PBS documentary, performed as a featured artist with orchestras and in movie and television soundtracks, as well as concerts and festivals around the world. Vappie’s highly regarded unique and original tenor banjo style is equal only to his love of his Creole heritage and tradition.