Main image



French guitarist, born 30 October 1957 in Oran, Algeria. As Sephardic Jews, his family came from Spain, Spanish Morocco, and French Algeria. He moved to Paris with his family when he was four years old. He studied piano and classical music at the age of seven. Four years later, he began to teach himself guitar after his father had bought him a steel string acoustic guitar and a classmate taught him a few chords. At seventeen, he signed a contract for his debut album, Près de Paris, which won the Grand Prix du Disque at the Montreux Festival.

His influences include Big Bill Broonzy, Larry Carlton, Martin Carthy, Ry Cooder, Joan Baez, Reverend Gary Davis, Davey Graham, Jimi Hendrix, Mississippi John Hurt, Bert Jansch, Nic Jones, Paco de Lucía, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, Wes Montgomery, John Renbourn, Django Reinhardt, Ralph Towner, and Doc Watson.

Bensusan uses DADGAD tuning system and electronics, such as delays, distortion, and volume pedals. He has stated that he became interested in playing in DADGAD because of its mystical and romantic quality which made him feel like he had gone back to the 16th or 17th century.

He includes scat-singing in his compositions, both composed and improvised. He has collaborated extensively with saxophonist Didier Malherbe. He performed the song ELM for the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack Cowboy Bebop No Disc for Yoko Kanno.

In 2006, Bensusan contributed his song Falafel a Montsegur to the album Artists for Charity – Guitarists 4 the Kids, produced by Slang Productions, to assist World Vision Canada in helping underprivileged children.

His music has been characterized as Celtic, folk, world music, New-age, and chamber jazz. He has published three books of music and tablature.

ALBUMS


Pierre Bensusan
Azwan
2020
Pierre Bensusan
Encore
2013, CDr, Promo, Smplr, Dadgad Music France
Pierre Bensusan
Encore. Live
2013
Pierre Bensusan
Acoustic Guitarist
2010, CD, Album, Not On Label
Pierre Bensusan
Vividly
2010
Pierre Bensusan
A La Carte
2009, CD, Comp, Dadgad Music France
Pierre Bensusan
Altiplanos
2005
Pierre Bensusan, Andrew York, Guinga, Brian Gore
International Guitar Night
2004, CD, Album, Favored Nations Entertainment
Pierre Bensusan
Anthology
2002, CD, Comp, Dadgad Music France, ,
Celtic
Pierre Bensusan
Bamboulé
2001, CD, Album, Comp, Acoustic Music Records
Pierre Bensusan
Intuite
2000
Pierre Bensusan
Nice Feeling
1997
Bensusan* & Malherbe*
Live Au New Morning
1997, ,
Contemporary Jazz
Pierre Bensusan
Wu Wei
1994
Pierre Bensusan
Musiques / Solilaï
1992, CD, Comp, Dadgad Music France
Pierre Bensusan
Près De Paris / PB2
1992, CD, Comp, Dadgad Records, ,
Celtic/Folk
Pierre Bensusan
Spices
1988
Pierre Bensusan
Early Pierre Bensusan
1986
Pierre Bensusan
"Compilations"
1984
Pierre Bensusan
Solilaï
1981
Pierre Bensusan
Musiques
1979, Vinyl, ,
Folk/Celtic
Wendy Miller, Jean-Marie Redon (2), Jean-Marc Andrès, Christian Séguret, Pierre Bensusan, Mike Lilly, Jim Rooney, Jean-Claude Druot, Bill Keith
Banjo Paris Session
1979, 2x Vinyl Gatefold Sleeve, ,
Bluegrass/Western Swing
Jim Rooney, Jean-Marie Redon (2), Christian Séguret, Jean-Marc Andrès, Pierre Bensusan, Mike Lilly, Wendy Miller, Jean-Claude Druot, Bill Keith
Banjo Paris Session Volume 2: Le Bluegrass
1977, LP, Album, Cezame, ,
Bluegrass
Pierre Bensusan
2
1977
Pierre Bensusan
Près De Paris
1975
Various, Bill Keith, Jean-Marie Redon (2), Jim Rooney, Pierre Bensusan, Jean-Yves Lozac'h
Banjo Paris - Session
1975, ,
Bluegrass
Pierre Bensusan
Musiques
CD, Comp, Dig, Dadgad Music France
Various
Guitar Heaven
LP, Comp, Happy Bird, ,
Folk Rock/Acoustic

APPEARANCES +


Pierre Bensusan
In Concert
2004, DVD-V, Album, Vestapol Productions
The Seatbelts
Cowboy Bebop LP-Box
2023, 2xLP, Album, RE + LP, Album, RE + 2xLP, Album, Mon, Flying Dog, ,
Free Jazz/Harmonica Blues/Bop/Swing/Hard Bop/Piano Blues/Cool Jazz/Anison/Soundtrack
Donny Osmond
Start Again
2021, CD, ,
Vocal
Tavi Jinariu
Reflections Along The Way
2014, CD, Album, Not On Label (Tavi Jinariu Self-released)
Lúnasa With The RTÉ Concert Orchestra
Lúnasa With The RTÉ Concert Orchestra
2013, CD, Album, Enh, Lúnasa Records, ,
Celtic
Jacqui McShee's Pentangle*
Live In Concert 1997-2011
2011, CD, Dig, GJS Records
Morwenna Lasko & Jay Pun
Chioggia Beat
2009, CD, Album, Kukicha Records
Various
Pure Tranquillité
2006, CD, Comp, Vox Terrae, ,
Downtempo/Ambient
Peter Janson
Firelight Moonlight
2004, CD, Album, EWM Publishing,
Dimitri*
Songs I Know By Heart
2004, CD, Album, LCA Records
The Seatbelts
Cowboy Bebop CD Box
2002, 5x CD Box Set, ,
Dialogue/Chiptune/Bop/Harmonica Blues/Free Jazz/Future Jazz/Modal/Post Bop/Hard Rock/Big Band/Cool Jazz/Anison
Céide
Like A Wild Thing
2001, CD, Album, Céide Music
Ulli Bögershausen
Personal Favourites
2000
Various
Natural Selection . . . A Sampler
1999, CD, Smplr, Zebra Acoustic
Micha Marah
Voyage
1998, CD, Album, Dino Music, Dino Music,
Folk/Vocal/Ballad
Scott Tennant
Wild Mountain Thyme (Celtic Music For Guitar)
1998, CD, ,
Celtic/Modern
Yoko Kanno = 菅野よう子*, The Seatbelts = シートベルツ*
Cowboy Bebop: No Disc = カウボーイビバップ オリジナルサウンドトラック2 No Disc
1998, ,
Breakbeat/Rock & Roll/Harmonica Blues
Lúnasa
Lúnasa
1998
Hugo Pamcos - Claudette Lagacé
"Nord-Sud"
1997, CD, Album, Not On Label, ,
Folk
Don Ross
This Dragon Won't Sleep
1995
Peter Chalmers
Journey
1993, Cass, Album, CrO, Not On Label
Philippe Eidel
Les Agricoles
1992, CD, Album, Silex, ,
Folk/Occitan/Medieval/Downtempo/Contemporary Jazz/Fusion
Various
Jazz Collection '91
1991, CD, Comp, Special Products (2), Special Products (2), ,
Fusion
林マヤ
MAYA
1991, CD, Album, Midi Inc., ,
Synth-pop/Boogie/Downtempo/Folk
Edward Wright
Acoustic Guitar Solos
1991, CD, Album, Not On Label,
Didier Malherbe
Fetish
1990, CD, Album, Mantra, Mantra, ,
Fusion/Contemporary Jazz
Various
A New Age Holiday Collection
1986, CD, Comp, Promo, Shopko, Etoile Records
Mark Nelson
Southern Light
1986
Bill Keith
Banjoistics
1984, Vinyl, ,
Bluegrass
Various
Acoustic Guitar
1983
Various
Baroque Folk
1982
Le Clou
Von Frankreich Nach Amerika
1980
Jean Marie Redon*
Banjoistiquement Votre...
1979, LP, Album, Cezame, ,
Bluegrass
Gene Parsons
Melodies
1979, Vinyl, ,
Folk Rock
Marc Robine
Ruelles (Musiques Pour Dulcimer)
1977, LP, Album, Cezame
Alain Giroux
Giroux's
1977, Vinyl, ,
Delta Blues/Ragtime
Cyril Lefebvre
”Musique Française Et Américaine De La Même Époque Et D'il Y A Longtemps“
1976, LP, Album, Cezame
Various
Folk Pirate
1975,
Various
Banjo Paris Session
1975
Dimitri*
Acoustic Journey
CD, Album, LCA Records
シートベルツ*
The Real Folk Blues Legends Cowboy Bebop
2023
Various
Hommage à Marcel Dadi
2016, CD, Comp, RE, Acoustic Music Records, ,
Acoustic/Indie Rock
Various
36th Port Fairy Folk Music Festival
2012, CD, Smplr, Not On Label
Various
Across The Continents: Fairbridge Festival 2009 Sampler
2009, CD, Comp, Not On Label
Various
Fingerstyle Guitar Number 65
2007, CD, Comp, Enh, Fingerstyle Guitar
Various
Guitarists 4 The Kids
2006, CD, Comp, Slang Productions Inc,
Various
Favored Nations 2005 Sampler
2005, CD, Comp, Promo, Smplr, Favored Nations Entertainment, ,
Hard Rock/Heavy Metal/Experimental/Symphonic Rock/Prog Rock/Acoustic/Indie Rock/Blues Rock/Contemporary Jazz
Various
Tuttuno
2005, CD, Comp, Smplr, Emme K Editore
Various
Acoustic Christmas
2004, CD, Album, Favored Nations Entertainment
Various
Acoustic Heart 2: The Passion And Romance Of Acoustic Guitar Masters
2004, CD, Comp, Shanachie, Shanachie, ,
Acoustic
Various
InunDations
2002, 2xCD, Comp, Ltd, DVD, Origin Records (11),
Various
KINK Lights Out VIII
2002, CD, 102, ,
Cool Jazz/Contemporary Jazz/Jazz-Rock/Easy Listening
Various
Beyond The Contradictions
2002, CD, Smplr, New Sounds Multimedia
Various
Lights Out VIII
2002, CD, Comp, Kink Fm 102
Various
Celtica 5
2001, CD, Comp, Edizioni 3ntini
Various
Celtica
2001, CD, Comp, Promo, edizioni 3entini&c.
Various
Favored Nations CD Sampler 2001
2001
James Kline
Troubadour's Odyssey
2000, CD, Album, Chamber
Various
Autour De La Guitare
2000, CD, Album, Globe Music
Various
Fiona Ritchie Presents: The Best Of The Thistle & Shamrock
1999, CD, Comp, Hearts Of Space Records
Various
Fiona Ritchie Presents: The Best Of The Thistle & Shamrock
1999, CD,
Various
The Echoes Living Room Concerts Volume 4
1998, CD, Album, Comp, Echodiscs, ,
Ambient
Various
The Blarney Pilgrim (Celtic Fingerstyle Guitar)
1998, CD, Album, Rounder Records
Various
Ramble To Cashel - Celtic Fingerstyle Guitar Volume One
1998
Various
Hommage à Marcel Dadi
1997, 2xCD, Comp, Déclic Communication, ,
Acoustic/Indie Rock
Various
Acoustic Influences
1996, CD, Album, Comp, XIII BIS Records
Various
The Real Music Box (25 Years Of Rounder Records)
1995, 9xCD, Comp + Box, Rounder Records, ,
Bluegrass/Appalachian Music/Chicago Blues/Country Blues/Country/Delta Blues/East Coast Blues/Boogie Woogie/African/Folk/Gospel/Zydeco/Cajun
Various
Acoustic Guitar Highlights Vol. 1
1995, CD, Comp, Acoustic Music Records, ,
Acoustic
Various
A Flurry Of Roots Music: Rounder's Winter Sampler
1995, 2xCD, Comp, Promo, Rounder Records, Rounder Records,
Various
Hills Of Home: 25 Years Of Folk Music On Rounder Records
1995, 2x CD, ,
Bluegrass/Country Blues/Folk
Various
The International Guitar Festival
1994, CD, Album, Comp, Acoustic Music Records,
Various
La Mer En Chansons - Volume 2
1994, CD, Comp, Editions Pluriel
Various
Alternatives
1989
Various
CBS/SONY Group Presents CBSFM / Global Pacific
1988, 2xCD, Comp, Promo, CBS/Sony
Various
Light Instrumental (Moderate)
1988, Cass, Mono, Muzak (3), Muzak (3), ,
Smooth Jazz/Light Music/Acoustic/New Age
Various
No Boundaries
1988
Various
CBS Records Coming Attractions
1987, Cass, Comp, CBS Records
Various
Great Acoustics
1985, LP, Comp, Philo
Various
Country & Western
1984, LP, RCA Media
Various
The New Acoustic Music Sampler
1984, Cass, Rounder Records
Various
The New Acoustic Music Sampler
1984
Various
6. Folkfestival Auf Der Lenzburg 1. Folkfestival Auf Dem Gurten
1977, 2xLP, VOXPOP, ,
Acoustic/Folk/Bluegrass/Country
Various
Musique Traditionnelle A Danser
1977, LP, Comp, Gat, Cezame, Cezame
Various
Maison Fondée En Septembre 1975
1976, 2xLP, Comp, Cezame
Various
4. Folk-Festival Auf Der Lenzburg
1975, 2xLP, Comp, Claves, ,
Folk Rock
Various
Jardins Secrets & Sciences Naturelles
CD, Album, Dig, Cezame
Various
Guitar Heaven Vol. II
LP, Comp, Happy Bird, ,
Acoustic/Folk Rock
Various
Animaux
CD, Album, Dig, Cezame
The Seatbelts, Yoko Kanno
Cowboy Bebop CD-Box Original Sound Track
2002
The Seatbelts
Cowboy Bebop - No Disc
1998