“The sole art that suits me is that which, rising from unrest, tends toward serenity.” – André Gide
Another very busy day when many, many things had to be done and not enough hours in the day to do them in. I must learn to say no, more often, I think. Having good intentions and not wanting to disappoint people may all be very well, but it may end up being a tad too much for ourselves. That’s what burn-outs are made of, I guess. However, there is always some time, a little time that we can use to recharge our batteries, stop and smell the roses, meditate a little, smile a little, listen to some music that rests our soul…
Here is what I listened to today to do precisely that:
Pierre Bensusan (born October 30th 1957) is a French/Algerian guitarist who was only 17 when he released his debut album, Près de Paris, in 1975. The record showcased an impressively developed sensitive melodic style coupled with an equally evolved rhythmic underpinning. His subsequent nine albums, including his recent release, Altiplanos (2005), find Bensusan extending the possibilities of steel-string acoustic guitar in a variety of solo and group contexts, as well as through the exploration of electronic looping. His warm, deep voice melds beautifully with the sonority of the guitar and his songs interspersed amongst his instrumental pieces are a pleasure to listen to.
Bensusan’s approach is steeped in influences that span the globe, including Celtic, folk, jazz, Latin, and Middle Eastern music. He is a master storyteller, using his pieces to convey unique points of view, narrative development, dialogue, and movement. To that end, he infuses his tunes with distinctive voicings, counterpoint melodies, and pulsing bass rhythms. Another Bensusan hallmark is his exclusive use of DADGAD tuning. In fact, he’s one of the world’s leading DADGAD exponents, having spent his entire career exploring the breadth and depth of the tonalities the tuning has to offer.
Enjoy your weekend!
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