The first concert in Cascadia Music’ 2017-2018 Season features French guitarist Pierre Bensusan in a solo performance. He has been touring the world for the past 40 years.

Born in Oran, French-Algeria,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.

At 17 he signed his first recording contract, and one year later his first album “Pres de Paris” won the Grand Prix du Disque upon his debut at the Montreux Festival in Switzerland.

Winner of the Independent Music Award, in the Live Performance Album category for his live album “Encore”, “Rose d’Or” of the Montreux Festival for his first album, “Près de Paris”, and “Best World Music Guitar Player ” by the readers of Guitar Player Magazine, Pierre Bensusan is recognized as one of the premier musicians of our time.

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If “World Music” is music that pays tribute to the spirit of a collection of human beings through distinct rhythms, traditional instruments and harmonic colors, French-Algerian guitarist, singer and composer Pierre Bensusan can be recognized as one of the most eloquent world musicians.

Described by the L.A. Times as “one of the most unique and brilliant acoustic guitar veterans in the  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 the ability to make a single guitar sound like an entire band as he brings the audience on a mesmerizing musical journey.
There is a sense of something both playful and serious in his work, an unparalleled sense of freedom in his compositions and his improvisations. His “manner” of playing defies classification – crossing world, classical, jazz, traditional, folk and more. None can be isolated as simply “Brazilian”, “Arabic” or “French”; rather, they represent our world in its current state, a world sharing itself, fusing cultures together in ways we have never experienced. A great ambassador of peace. Not to be missed!

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DATE: Sept 16, 7pm. TICKETS: $20, brownpapertickets.com. LOCATION: The Merc Playhouse. CONTACT: 509-997-0222, cascadiamusic4u@gmail.com www.cascadiamusic.org