Pierre Bensusan — One Guitar, One Voice — 50th Anniversary
If World Music means the fusion of traditional, contemporary, jazz, classical, and pop music, then Pierre Bensusan is one of the most eloquent World Music musicians of our time. A pianist in his beginnings, then self-taught on the guitar, the originality of his style makes him one of today’s greatest guitarists and composers for the instrument. Also called “The Prince of DADGAD,” he is the Rose d'Or of the Montreux Festival and was elected Best Guitarist – World Music by the readers of Guitar Player Magazine. His triple album Encore won the Grand Prix of the Independent Music Awards for Best Live Album.
Since his first performances in 1974 in France, Bensusan has sold half a million albums and given thousands of concerts around the globe, both solo and through numerous collaborations.
Pierre Bensusan is an adventurer of unusual lands. His almost “sacred” music is an intimate and orchestral hymn — a solo crossing on a multi-shell Lowden guitar, subjected to the natural elements with sound molecules and fingertip pulp on an ebony fingerboard for open tuning — a unique and transparent technique, under the fingers of an adventurous pilgrim.
“Listening to Pierre’s music is rejuvenating. Beside his extraordinary touch and tone, the notes and melody appeal directly to the tender side of our human nature.”
— Steve Vai
“This is beautiful... Pierre is one of the GREATS!!!”
— Tommy Emmanuel, CGP
“With only his steel-string acoustic guitar — and sometimes his rich, affecting voice — Mr. Bensusan can disassemble your heart and hand it back to you restored and renewed. As he did to mine tonight. A true giant.”
— James Volpe Rotondi (former Senior Editor at Guitar Player Magazine)