Guitarist Pierre Bensusan Kicks Off North American CD Release Tour in Wilmington

After taking a three year sabbatical, French-Algerian acoustic guitar virtuoso, vocalist and composer Pierre Bensusan returns to the USA and Canada to present the music of his brand new album "Azwan", as well as his new book containing all scores from this exhilarating new CD. He opens his 100 date tour with TWO shows in Wilmington and is collaborating with Forward Motion Dance Company and choreographer Tracey Varga to bring the art of dance together with his unique and inspired sound.

It's as if the guitar has been given free reign to play itself! French-Algerian acoustic guitar virtuoso, vocalist and composer Pierre Bensusan, nicknamed "Mr. DADGAD", has taken his unique sound to all corners of the globe. Winner of the Independent Music Awards for his triple live album "Encore", voted Best World Music guitarist by Guitar Player Magazine reader's Poll, and winner of the Rose d'Or at the Montreux Festival for his debut album, Pierre is recognized as one of the greatest guitar players of the 21st century.

Born in Oran, French-Algeria, in 1957 when France was decolonizing its Empire, Pierre Bensusan's family moved to Paris when he was 4. He began formal studies on piano at the age of 7 and at 11 taught himself guitar. Influenced in those early days by the folk revival blooming in Britain, France and North America, Bensusan began first to explore his own diverse musical heritage and then moved to the horizons beyond. He signed his first recording contract at 17 and one year later his first album, "Près de Paris" won the Grand Prix du Disque upon his debut at the Montreux Festival in Switzerland.

Described by the L.A. Times as "one of the most unique and brilliant acoustic guitar veterans in the world music scene today", Pierre's name became synonymous with contemporary acoustic guitar genius, long before the terms New Age or World Music were invented. He has literally created a style of playing with the ability to make a single guitar sound like an entire band as he brings the audience on a mesmerizing musical journey. And yet, Bensusan is more than what any musician or music lover expects from a guitarist. He is a composer as well as a bilingual and original and improvisational vocalist, with his own scat technique.

Immortalized by the tune 'Bensusan' written in tribute by the late Michael Hedges, and referenced as an important inspiration to many other great musicians, Pierre Bensusan is a one-of-a-kind artist whose music transcends genre and time, with an uninhibited sense of musical freedom and expression, a sense of something both playful and serious, otherworldly yet right here; right now. His "manner" of playing defies classification - crossing world, classical, jazz, traditional, folk, pop and more. None can be isolated as simply "World Music", "Celtic", "Arabic" or "French"; rather, they represent Pierre's genuine vocabulary and the best part of our world in its current state, a world sharing itself. Not to be missed!

During a three year hiatus from international touring, Pierre Bensusan has been writing exciting new material and perfecting his guitar-playing for his new instrumental CD "Azwan"- to be released on March 13, 2020, in time for a 90 concert North American tour from March through July of 2020, followed by tours in China, Japan & Europe. In a departure from his more recent solo recordings, Pierre wished to bring other sounds and mixtures into his compositions, so he has enlisted a "cream of the crop" of musicians whom he loves - to add texture on duets, trios and ensemble pieces. They include Didier Malherbe (soprano sax & flutes), Jerry Douglas (dobro), Mark O-Connor (violin), Vincent Peirani (accordion), Christophe Cravero (alto violin, Keyboards, strings arrangement), Bobby Thomas Jr (hand drums), Stéphane Kerecki (upright bass), Emmanual Binet (freyless bass), a string quartet and Jean Marie Ecay (electric guitar) who also produces this CD. Still, the majority of the songs are written in a manner in which he can perform them beautifully in solo concert.

"I chose to work with a French producer, Jean-Marie Ecay, who happens to be one of the most in-demand electric guitarists on the French jazz scene (tours with Jean-Luc Ponty, Richard Galliano) so that I may take advantage of his ears, experience and suggestions to bring the music in a different direction." says Pierre.

Scores from "Azwan" plus a selection of popular performances pieces, technical considerations and insights have just been published in a new book "The Pierre Bensusan Guitar Collection", released worldwide by Hal Leonard (*except by "Fingerstyle China": for China, Hong Kong & Taiwan).

CONCERT INFO:
Saturday, March 7th
2 Shows Only! 3pm AND 7:30pm
At the Hannah Block Community Arts Center, 120 South 2nd Street, Wilmington, NC 28401
Tickets: $21 in advance; $25 day of show
Online Ticket ordering: https://forwardmotiondance.org/event/pierre-bensusan-live-with-guests-forward-motion-dance-company/
or phone 910-793-6675

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