WORLD-RENOWNED GUITARIST PIERRE BENSUSAN’S
THREE CD RETROSPECTIVE COLLECTION ‘ENCORE’
RECEIVES ‘BEST CDS OF 2013’ NOMINATION
BY THE INDIE ACOUSTIC PROJECT

The “Mozart of Guitar” Pierre Bensusan (www.pierrebensusan.com), who celebrates 40 years of live performances and critically-acclaimed recordings with his three CD set Encore, has received a “Best CDs of 2013’ nomination by the Indie Acoustic Project.

The Indie Acoustic Project awards was created to generate increased awareness of indie artists and record companies by promoting and recognizing outstanding works of innovative, independently produced acoustic music from around the world, and to provide a means of helping the artists to reach a wider audience.

The three finalists in each of eight categories were selected from the multitudes of CDs that were considered for the awards.

An ambitious and expansive retrospective collection marking his 40 years as a globetrotting concert performer, Encore was also recently nominated for best Live Performance Album in the 13^th Annual Independent Music Awards in the U.S.

The Independent Music Awards (IMAs) is an international program that honors top ranked independent artists and releases in more than 80 Album, Song, EP, Producer, Music Video and Design categories. Voting is open to the public via the following link: http://www.independentmusicawards.com/imanominee/13th/Album/Live-Performances

Bensusan recently kicked off his 55-date North American and European 40^th Anniversary tour. The tour’s North American leg (which includes numerous U.S. dates and an April 27 stop at Church of Saint Stephens in the Field in Toronto) runs through early May. Bensusan is then scheduled to perform six dates in Germany and two in Austria before returning to Canada May 26 to play the Festival des Guitars du Monde, Rouyn-Noranda (QC). After a June 9 date at the Jersey Arts Center, he launches 11 dates in the UK (England and Scotland) before wrapping the tour with two shows June 26 and 28 in Ireland.

The tour will also be a celebration of a dynamic 35-year association with his longtime guitar maker Lowden Guitars (www.georgelowden.com).

Encore has garnered lots of attention from the media. GuitarPlayer.com’s Barry Cleveland recently profiled Bensuasn and said, “…like a fine Bordeaux wine from an outstanding vintage, his artistry has only increased in depth and complexity as he has matured.

In Acoustic Guitar magazine’s (www.acousticguitar.com) recent feature article on Bensusan and Encore, Doug Young writes: “Bensusan has become known as one of the world’s premier fingerstyle guitarists, combining dazzling technique with complex and adventurous compositions that incorporate elements of jazz, folk and Celtic music as well as more exotic elements from his French-Algerian heritage…His eclectic, distinctive style has greatly influenced several generations of fingerstyle guitarists, but at the same time, his tone, phrasing and melodic approach remain unmistakably unique.”

In Premier Guitar Magazine (www.premierguitar.com), Teja Gerken called Encore a “stunning overview of Bensusan’s career…an amazing 40 year retrospective that sounds great (thanks to Grammy-winning engineer Rich Breen) and serves as an excellent introduction to Bensusan’s work.”

Music Morsels Reviews (musicmorsels.wordpress.com) wrote: “One of the most highly respected acoustic guitarists around, Pierre Bensusan rooted through his collection of live recordings over a span of several years to come up with this thirty five song career introspective that will no doubt be highly coveted by loyal fans as well as a great entry level collection for those who are curious. This is Pierre at his simple best, picking and plucking his classics in brilliant fashion…For those who don’t know him but are fans of instrumental acoustic guitar music, dive right in. If this does not make you an instant fan, nothing will.”

Last month, Bensusan was featured on the cover of Akustik Gitarre magazine in Germany. A feature on Bensusan also appeared in the February 2014 issue of Vintage Guitar Magazine (USA) and Chitarra Magazine (Italy).     

For the latest news and tour dates, please visit www.pierrebensusan.com

Remaining U.S. Tour Dates:

APRIL 10 – Jammin’ Java – Vienna, VA

APRIL 11 – The Music Barn at Sotir Farm – Phoenix, MD

APRIL 12 – Godfrey Daniel’s – Bethlehem, PA

APRIL 13 – Tupelo Music Hall – Londonderry NH

APRIL 15 – The Irridium Jazz Club – New York, NY

APRIL 18 – Next Stage Arts Project – Putney, VT

APRIL 19 – One Longfellow Square – Portland, ME

APRIL 22 – Music Emporium – Lexington, MA

APRIL 23 – Club Passim – Cambridge, MA

APRIL 24 – Cadyville Concert Hall – Cadyville, NY

APRIL 25 – Michael Greenfield’s Guitar Workshop – Montreal, Canada

APRIL 26 – Caffe Lena – Saratoga Springs, NY

APRIL 28 – The Ark – Ann Arbor, MI

APRIL 29 – Natalie’s Coal-Fired Pizza – Worthington, OH

MAY 1 – Legion Arts – Cedar Rapids, IA

MAY 9 – Sutter Creek Theatre – Sacramento, CA

MAY 10 – Castoro Cellars – Templeton, CA

MAY 26 – Festival des Guitars du Monde, QC Canada

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