Two Shows Only! 3 pm and 7:30 pm March 7, 2020
Hannah Block Community Arts Center
120 South 2nd Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
Ticket price $21 in advance – $25 day of show and are available by clicking here.
After a three year sabbatical, French-Algerian acoustic guitar virtuoso, vocalist and composer Pierre Bensusan returns to North America to play nearly 100 shows, presenting the music of his new album Azwan, as well as his new book and brand new Lowden Guitar Artist Model. He opens his tour with two shows in Wilmington and is collaborating with Forward Motion Dance Company and choreographer Tracey Varga to bring the art of dance together with his unique and inspired sound.
Pierre Bensusan, surnamed “Mister DADGAD,” has taken his unique sound to all corners of the globe. Winner of the Independent Music Awards for his triple live album Encore, voted Best World Music guitarist by Guitar Player Magazine reader’s Poll, and winner of the Rose d’Or at the Montreux Festival for his debut album, Pierre is recognized as one of the greatest guitar players of the 21st century.
Born in Oran, French-Algeria, in 1957, when France was decolonizing its Empire, Pierre Bensusan’s family moved to Paris when he was 4. He began formal studies on piano at the age 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. He signed his first recording contract at 17, and one year later his first album, Près de Paris, won the Grand Prix du Disque upon his debut at the Montreux Festival in Switzerland. Described by the L.A. Times as “one of the most unique and brilliant acoustic guitar veterans in the world 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 literally created a style of playing with the ability to make a single guitar sound like an entire band as he brings the audience on a mesmerizing musical journey. And yet, Bensusan is more than what any musician or music lover expects from a guitarist. He is a composer as well as a bilingual and original and improvisational vocalist, with his own scat technique.
Immortalized by the tune “Bensusan” written in tribute by the late Michael Hedges, and referenced as an important inspiration to many other great musicians, Pierre Bensusan is a one-of-a-kind artist whose music transcends genre and time, with an uninhibited sense of musical freedom and expression, a sense of something both playful and serious, otherworldly yet right here right now. His manner of playing defies classification – crossing world, classical, jazz, traditional, folk, pop and more. None can be isolated as simply World Music, Celtic, Arabic or French; rather, they represent Pierre’s genuine vocabulary and the best part of our world in its current state, a world sharing itself.
These special tour-opening performances with guests Forward Motion Dance Company are not to be missed!
An Evening with Pierre Bensusan is sponsored by Forward Motion Dance Company.For more information, please visit us on Facebook or at www.forwardmotiondance.org.
Find out more about Pierre at:
https://www.instagram.com/pierrebensusan/
Music this year is from Benny Hill, Wilmington’s own alto saxophone virtuoso who is reminiscent of many greats from classical to jazz, yet brings a distinct style and voice of his own. Benny is a true crowd-pleaser and never fails to raise excitement and enthusiasm while on stage.
Cape Fear Arts in Motion: Kinetic, Energetic, Poeticconnects dancers, choreographers, musical and visual artists and more to bring the art form of dance together for a varied and collaborative dance event from Forward Motion Dance Company. This annual performance showcases the talents of Choreographer Tracey Varga with new dance performances along with re-creations of works from the past. Returning this year is “Wounded Restoration” which premiered at the NC Dance Festival in 2013 and is set to music based on “Sposa son disprezzata” from the opera Bejazetby Antonio Vivaldi. From the 2018 Cape Fear Arts in Motion is “Little Black Dress”, danced to music performed and composed by local musician Barbara Gallagher and featuring three sections from the piano with orchestral arrangements. “Sparkling Spiral”, which premiered at the 2019 Wilmington Dance Festival features visual art by Kristin Gibson creating a stage set alongside the dancers, with music by Andrew Bird.
Susan Turner of Forward Motion Dance Company presented a check for $1000 to Tammy Tierney, Development Manager of Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry (WARM). The money was raised from proceeds from Arts Sensation! at Thalian Hall in April, a benefit performance for WARM which showcases local musicians, choreographers and dancers. Pictured with Susan and Tammy is Andy Jones, Program Development and Kelley Mawhinney, Development Coordinator.
Arts Sensation showcases the unique and historic Thunder Roll and Rain Machine. These special effects, built right into the Thalian Hall stage, were thrilling in their time, and are used in performances to this day. Music this year is Stray Local, Wilmington’s indie folk duo Hannah Lomas and Jamie Rowen. With a unique and electrifying sound, and hints of their southern roots, Lomas and Rowen push the boundaries of the genre and pave the way for a new indie folk sound. Stray Local have performed their unique sound across the east coast and on two international tours including performances in France, Germany, and across the United Kingdom.
Arts Sensation also brings a variety of dance creations from the genres of tap, classical ballet, jazz, modern, folk dance, and street dance/hip-hop, presented by local choreographers and dancers, including Linda Ann Webb, Cedric Kopa, Qaadir Hicks, Tracey Varga, Nancy Carson, a performance by students from Snipes Academy, choreographed by Jeneen Cleare Floyd and a duet by DREAMS students choreographed by Kevin Lee-Y Green. Film by filmmaker Patrick Ogelvie will be shown in collaboration with choreographers and dancers. And with their fine style, the captivating Company “T” Tap Dancers return to wow audiences with a vintage flair.
