PRESS RELEASE

Date: 03/14/2012

Pierre Bensusan Heads to North America This Summer To ‘Vividly’ Celebrate His Acclaimed Album

‘MOZART OF GUITAR’ PIERRE BENSUSAN
HEADS TO THE U.S. FOR A SUMMER TOUR THAT
‘VIVIDLY’ CELEBRATES HIS CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED ALBUM

* * *

The French-Algerian Instrumentalist, Who Won Guitar
Player Magazine Reader’s Choice Award as the “Best
World Music Guitar Player” in 2008 is Trotting
the Globe on his 2012 World Tour

Nearly 15 months after his last stateside visit, Pierre Bensusan heads back to the U.S. for a highly-anticipated tour, starting at the Nightcat in Easton, MD. May 9. Over the course of his summer jaunt, the French-Algerian artist globally known as the “Mozart of Guitar”—who released his most recent album, Vividly, in late 2010—will perform in venues throughout the Mid-Atlantic, South, West Coast, Northwest, Midwest and Northeast.

In addition to the U.S. shows, Bensusan will also be performing at the Montreal Jazz Festival on April 27, Capilano University in North Vancouver, British Columbia June 27, Salon de Lutherie on June 30^,and the Trinity St. Paul’s United Church in Toronto on July 8.

Bensusan’s U.S. dates are part of an extensive seven month global tour that began with four March dates at the Portfairy Festival in Portfairy, Australia and includes a total of 17 dates in Australia, three in China and numerous shows in France, Germany, Austria, Ireland and the UK.

Vividly, a multi-cultural, melodic instrumental and vocal album, marked Bensusan’s 35^th year as a recording artist—a span that includes such accolades as Guitar Player Magazine’s Reader’s Choice Award as the “Best World Music Guitar Player” (2008) and the American Association of Independent Music’s “Best Acoustic Album of 2002” for Intuite.

The music on the album reflects a spirit of jubilation. “My hope is always to create music that becomes part of the fabric of people’s lives,” says the guitarist. “It’s there for your enjoyment and it won’t disturb you, but if you do stop and pay closer attention, you might be magically roped into something you could not have imagined.”

One of the key people that Bensusan and Vividly have emotionally lassoed is three-time Grammy Award winner and master guitarist Steve Vai, who has worked with fellow electric guitar monsters like Frank Zappa and Joe Satriani and also toured with Ozzy Osbourne. Vividly was released in the U.S. and Canada on Vai’s label Favored Nations.

Another iconic guitarist who played with Osbourne, along with Quiet Riot, was the late Randy Rhoads; an upcoming DVD “Randy Rhoads: The Quiet Riot Years” will feature Bensusan’s song “Hymn 11” from his Altiplatos album. The video–a companion piece to the book “Crazy Train: The High Life And Tragic Death Of Randy Rhoads”–highlights the life of the guitar master who died in a plane crash in 1982. The DVD will be available for preorder April 1 on www.guitarworld.com.

Fans can visit the redesigned website for the latest tour information and more at www.pierrebensusan.com.

Upcoming Shows: (more shows to be announced)

May 9, 2012 Easton, MD Nightcat

May 10, 2012 Staunton, VA Mockingbird

May 11, 2012 Charlotte, NC Evening Muse

May 12, 2012 Asheville, NC The Altamont Theatre

May 12, 2012 Decatur, GA Eddie’s Attic

May 17, 2012 Chattanooga, TN Barking Legs Theater

May 18, 2012 Jackson, MS Duling Hall

May 20, 2012 Birmingham, AL The Virginia Samford Theatre

May 23, 2012 Takoma Park, MD Institute of Musical Traditions

May 24, 2012 Felton, CA Don Quixote’s