Return of the King of DADGAD - Pierre Bensusan IMT Concert, Takoma Park, 05-23-2012

Takoma Park, MD, the original home of American fingerstyle guitarist John Fahey, once again hosted the master of DADGAD guitar Pierre Bensusan. Thanks to the efforts of the Institute of Musical Tradition, audience members were treated to the thrilling sonorities that Mr. Bensusan elicits from his George Lowden guitar and assorted effects such as the Eventide Space reverb foot pedal.

Pierre remarked that he felt like he had been driving for days on end and had just found his guitar again. He opened his first set without comments and dug into several songs from his vast repertoire that trace his interest in Celtic, French, and Middle Eastern music. Often using either wordless vocals or even the occasional whistle, Mr. Bensusan’s music always told a story.

Pierre concluded the concert by making a rare move from his seated perch and launched into a improvisational motif of Middle Eastern based patterns that reminded me of the great Oud player Dhafer Youseff (click link to watch video).

Mr. Bensusan is in the middle of a 40 city tour of the US and next heads to western states.

PIerre Bensusan IMT Folk Concert Video