“It’s like the guitar has been given free rein to play itself!”French acoustic guitar virtuoso, vocalist, and composer Pierre Bensusan, surnamed “Mister DADGAD”, has taken his unique sound to all corners of the globe.Winner of the Independent Music Award&nbsp;for his triple live album "Encore", voted&nbsp;Best World Music Guitarist&nbsp;by Guitar Player Magazine readers’ Poll,&nbsp;winner of the Rose d’Or&nbsp;at the&nbsp;Montreux Festival&nbsp;for his debut album, Pierre is recognized as one of the greatest guitar players of the 21st century.When Michael Hedges titles one of his compositions “Bensusan”, you know that the inspiration behind it must be special, and Pierre Bensusan certainly is. Guitarists from Leo Kottke to Larry Corryel, to Tuck Andress, Tommy Emmanuel, Mark Knopfler, Andrew York, Andy Timmons, Pat Metheny, and Steve Lukather… have sung his praises, and Steve Vai released three Bensusan albums on his label Favored Nations. And it's not just guitarists who are so inspired by Pierre's music, as a recent studio collaboration with him on Donny Osmond’s latest album “Start Again” goes to show.If World Music means the fusion of traditional, contemporary, jazz, classical, and pop music, then 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”, his story is far from trivial, and it is on stage that this artist has earned his stripes: among others, the Rose d'Or of the Montreux Festival, and being elected Best Guitarist of World Music by the readers of Guitar Player Magazine! His triple album "Encore" won the Grand Prix at the Independent Music Awards in the Best Live Album category... Since his first performances in 1974 in France, the guitarist 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 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 finger pulp on an ebony fingerboard for open tuning - a unique and transparent technique, under the fingers of an adventurous pilgrim.&nbsp;«&nbsp;I have been aware of Mr. Bensusan’s musical abilities for many years, and I have been a true admirer of his unparalleled style of musicianship. While I was writing my 65th album, I wanted his unique sound and style on one of my songs. I was determined to find him wherever he was. He agreed to help me. Pierre not only created what I was hoping for, but also exceeded my expectations. It was a masterpiece, to say the least. We have become very good friends since then.(Donny Osmond – The Osmond Brothers)&nbsp;“For me, so total is his mastery of the solo instrument, his dazzling harmony, his many innovations, and his deft command of counterpoint, the jazz idiom, folk expression, and all genres between and beyond, an entire history unfolds as Pierre Bensusan plays. But really, the emotional depth – and this is where true artistry often likes to live – of many of his songs and compositions is all, well, breathtaking. 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&nbsp;(editor at Guitar Player Magazine)&nbsp;"I've seen Alfred Brendel, Itzhak Perlman, Daniel Barenboim, Lynn Harrell, Nureyev, Placido Domingo, etc., etc., perform magnificently. Tonight, in Atlanta, in the last half of the second set, Pierre Bensusan went a quantum beyond the warm, compelling, appealing, extremely accomplished guitarist whose recordings and performances I've eagerly sought for over 30 years. He's achieved the sublime -- decades of technique, creativity, intuition, passion, and intensity crashed together -- a man transformed, singular, stunning. I have so seldom had the privilege and pure animal joy of experiencing this caliber of artistry."Rain Crow&nbsp;(a fan) BIOGRAPHIC ELEMENTS•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Born in October 1957 in Oran (Algeria)•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Moves to France metropole, in the west suburb of Paris, in 1962•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Studies piano from the age 6 with Madame Rosso•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Taught himself how to play guitar at 11•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Quit school at 16•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Records his 1st album « Près de Paris » at 17, and wins The Grand Prix/Rose d’Or of the Montreux Festival in Switzerland•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Releases 16 albums, the most recent being « Azwan »•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Leader of a world approach to the guitar, in open tuning•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Has given about 4000 concerts around the globe and sold ½ million albums since 1975•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Has lived in Oran, Suresnes, Nice, in the USA every year, Paris, and now in the French countryside, 1 hour from Paris since 1992 COLLABORATIONSDonny Osmond, Jacques Higelin, Yoko Kano &amp; Cowboy Bebop, Didier Malherbe (Gong), Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater), Bobby Thomas Jr (Weather Report), Nana Vasconcellos, International Guitar Night (USA), Bill Keith, Larry Corryell, Gingua, Andrew York, Gene Parsons (The Byrds), …