Herschel Freeman Agency

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2009 U.S. TOUR

Pierre Bensusan, Benjamin Verdery, Cecilia Zabala,
and Brian Gore

 

For the January/February 2009 U.S. tour, Brian welcomes French fingerstyle master Pierre Bensusan; renowned American classical guitarist and composer Benjamin Verdery, and  Cecilia Zabala, brilliant young guitarist and singer from Argentina. 

IGN US 09

The Performers

PIERRE BENSUSAN

Some guitarists have become fluent in the musical language of their time and place. Of these men and women, there are some who take in music from beyond their own surroundings and give birth to new musical ideas, brave compositions, and inventive playing styles. Most rare, however, are those artists who do all these things and continue to listen to their hearts, who compose beyond the limitations of their instrument, and who improvise without fear. Rare indeed, Pierre Bensusan is a guitarist, a composer, a man who constantly explores the depth of his own voice. In doing so, his music, (or as he says, his work) seems to come from a source much greater than the hands and voice of one man.

If “world music” is music that pays tribute to the spirit of a collection of human beings through distinct rhythms, traditional instruments and harmonic colors, Pierre Bensusan can be recognized as one of the most eloquent and diverse world musicians of our time. In his solo concerts that could last nearly 3 hours, and take the listener throughout the palette of emotions, between anxiety, serenety and deep joy, Bensusan weaves together the music from so many lands and so many times in history, no list of reasonable length here would suffice. And for each piece Bensusan describes as being influenced by “a man from Iraq”, or the middle-ages, or the essence of the Brazilian culture, each piece is informed by much more. None can be isolated as simply “Brazilian” or “French”; rather, they represent our world in its current state, a world sharing itself, fusing cultures together in ways we have never experienced.

On the surface, it may be unusual to recognize a steel-string acoustic guitarist as a premier jazz musician. Many jazz guitarists prefer electric or nylon-string guitars to facilitate the gymnastic chord positions and quick runs often found in jazz music. One look at Bensusan on-stage, barring chords while stretching five, sometimes six frets, is usually enough to make even the most well-versed jazz aficionado stop in their tracks. As technically impressive as is the simultaneous execution of a colorful melody, an active bass line, unique harmonic choices, and eclectic rhythms, it is the music that Bensusan hears that drives the mechanics of his body. There is a sense of something both playful and serious in his work, an unparalleled sense of freedom in his compositions and his improvisations. Freedom, the spirit of jazz incarnate, is Bensusan and the music he channels without any apparent musical boundaries.

And while it is true that his name has been synonymous with the guitar, Bensusan is more than what any musician or music lover expects from a guitarist. He is a composer. He is a bilingual and a brave improvisational vocalist, melding whistles and resonant low notes with something like his own scat technique. Yes, of all the guitarists in the world, Bensusan is considered to be one of the greatest we have ever known, but maybe we can see him in a different way. Maybe what is great about his work is that it is of all the guitarists in the world.

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 of 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. At 17 he signed his first recording contract, 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. Today, listen to his new album Altiplanos and hear why Pierre Bensusan's name has become synonymous with contemporary acoustic guitar genius, long before the terms New Age or World Music were invented.

BENJAMIN VERDERY

Distinguished as "one of the classical guitar world's most foremost personalities," by Classical Guitar Magazine, "an American original, an American master," by Guitar Review Magazine, and "iconoclastic" and "inventive" by The New York Times, Benjamin Verdery has enjoyed an innovative and eclectic musical career.

Since his 1980 New York debut with his wife, flutist Rie Schmidt, Benjamin has performed worldwide, including the International Guitar Festival (Havana, Cuba); Festival International de Agosto (Caracas, Venezuela); Theatre Carré (Amsterdam); Chichester Cathedral (England); Bad Urach Schubert Festival (Germany); the 92nd Street Y, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Opera (NYC), the Ambassador Theater in Los Angeles, and concerts in Japan, Korea and Singapore. He has recorded and performed with such diverse artists as Frederic Hand, William Coulter, Leo Kottke, Anthony Newman, Jessye Norman, Paco Peña, Hermann Prey and John Williams. Several composers have composed music for him, including Daniel Asia, John Anthony Lennon, Ingram Marshall, Anthony Newman, Roberto Sierra, Van Stiefel and Jack Vees.

Benjamin has released over 15 albums, his most recent, Branches (Mushkatweek) features arrangements of works by Bach, Mozart, Strauss, Hendrix and the traditional Amazing Grace. His recording, Start Now (Mushkatweek), won the 2005 Classical Recording Foundation Award. Other recordings of note include Some Towns & Cities which won the 1992 Guitar Player Magazine Best Classical Guitar Recording and his collaboration with John Williams on John Williams Plays Vivaldi (Sony Classical).

Since 1985, Benjamin has been chair of the guitar department at the Yale University School of Music. In 2004, the Yale University Music Library commissioned Ingram Marshall to compose a work for classical and electric guitars. Dark Florescence was premiered at Carnegie Hall with the American Composers Orchestra and Steven Sloane in February 2005 and had its European premiere at the Belfast Festival (Ireland) with the Ulster Orchestra in November 2005. The electric guitarist for these occasions was Andy Summers (of The Police). Having met at the 2002 New York Guitar Festival, Benjamin and Andy have since recorded First you Build A Cloud, which will be released this spring.

A prolific composer, many of Benjamin Verdery’s compositions have been performed and published over the years. Most recently, Benjamin completed Peace, Love and Guitars for John Williams and John Etheridge recorded at the Dublin Festival in July 2006 and released by SONY in September 2006. Williams had also recorded and performed his work Capitola in 1996. Benjamin¹s Scenes from Ellis Island, for guitar orchestra, has been extensively broadcast and performed at festivals and universities in the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Europe, and the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet included it on their CD Air and Ground (Sony Classical). Benjamin’s Etudes for guitar orchestra was commissioned by the Tidewater Classical Guitar Society and premiered at the 2004 Virginia International Festival. Doberman-Yppan (Canada) is currently publishing his solo and duo works for guitar and Workshop Arts (distributed by Alfred Music) has published the solo pieces from Some Towns & Cities as well as instructional books and video.

In addition to his solo tours, recording and teaching Benjamin performs with guitarist Bill Coulter (Bill & Ben), his ensemble Ufonia and with flutist Rie Schmidt (Schmidt/Verdery Duo). Benjamin Verdery is Artistic Director of the Yale Guitar Extravaganza, a one-day guitar conference featuring guitarists and artists in concert and lectures; and, of the Art & the Guitar series at the 92nd St Y (New York City). Mr. Verdery will hold his 9th Annual International Master Class on the Island of Maui (Hawaii), in August 2007 and is Honorary board member of the Suzuki Association of the Americas, Inc.

“Generous and courageous, Verdery offered a concert like we’ve seldom heard.”

GUITARE CLASSIQUE, FRANCE – October, 2006

CECILIA ZABALA

Cecilia Zabala was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1975. Throughout her career, she has expressed her musical creativity using her guitar and her voice, creating original compositions that blend sensitivity, emotion, technique and intuition. Her music draws on a rich mixture of influences, from Argentinian folklore, the contemporary language of the twentieth century, jazz, tango, and Brazilian music.

Cecilia is an active participant in the musical scene of Buenos Aires, with a variety of projects as a performer, composer and arranger. She plays as a soloist and is also a member of several different chamber ensembles, such as the guitar quartet “Cuatro en punto”, the tango group “Mala Junta”, and the duos “Las Morochas” and “Alvarezabala.” With “Alvarezabala”, she performed in the productions of “Halo de luz” –2004- (www.alvarezabaladuo.com.ar) and “Milonga sin palabras –2005- (www.lasmorochasduo.com.ar) With “Las Morochas” she made a tour of the U.K., playing at the National Theatre and the Lewes Guitar Festival in 2006. In 2006, she recorded her third solo CD. “Aguaribay” (www.myspace.com/ceciliazbala). with special guests Juan Falú (www.juanfalu.com.ar) , Silvia Iriondo (www.silviairiondo.com.ar) and Quique Sinesi (www.quiquesinesi.com). She also toured in 2006 with Quique. Cecilia’s International Guitar Night tours of Canada in November 2008 and the U.S. in January 2009 will mark her North American debut.

In Argentine she has played at:
Morón University, as a soloist of the Morón Chamber Orchestra
Scala de San Telmo of Buenos Aires (2005)
Reggio Theater in the cycle “When art attacks”(1996)
“Guitars in the World ’96 – 2002 – 2006” Festivals (Hall AB of the General San Martín Cultural Center)
Colón Theatre in the city of Mar del Plata in the “Biennial Exhibition of Young Art ‘97”
“And the Tango Fusion Festival 2006”
Roxi Thatre in the city of Mar del Plata in the “Biennial Exhibition of Young Art ‘2006”
La Plata Town Hall Golden Hall (2003)
Alberdi Hall of the San Martín Cultural Center in the cycle “Música maestro” (2004)
“Latrapalanda Theatre” in Río Cuarto, Córdoba (2006)
“La voz del interior’s Auditorium” in Córdoba (2006)
Cultural Coopertion Center of Buenos Aires (2006)
Renault Museum of Buenos Aires (2006)
International Foundation Jorge Luis Borges of Buenos Aires (2005)
Morón Theatre “Gregorio de Laferrere” (2000)
Economical Science Professional Association (2005)
Beaux-arts Museum (2005)
De la Trapalanda Theatre (Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Arg 2006)
“La Voz del Interior! Auditorium (Córdoba, Arg, 2006)
De la War Pavillion (England, 2006)
National Theatre (England, 2006)
Lewes Guitar Festival (England, 2006)
Jazz and others musics Festival 6° edition (2007)

BRIAN GORE

"Brian Gore's strong, well developed melodies and intriguing chord sequences set him apart from the myriad of steel-string fingerstylists who compose in open tunings.  His finely crafted poetic "songs without words" take the listener on a spellbinding emotional ride.”
    --Ron Forbes Roberts, Acoustic Guitar Magazine

“An artist of the highest caliber.”
--Ray Toumey, the Boulder Chautauqua

San Francisco guitar poet Brian Gore is gaining a reputation as one of the most interesting and influential performers of "the next generation" in fingerstyle guitar. A musical romantic, his compositions draw inspiration from myth and modern literature. Hailed as having "...one of the most unique new acoustic guitar styles on the scene today (News and Review)," his lyrical, understated compositions integrate classical and percussive techniques that display what the Los Angeles Times calls "a characterful bounce and spaciousness all his own."

Gore’s style of playing offers strikingly beautiful tone and dynamics-- qualities that are often hard to find in steel string players.  His melodic, evocative songs rely heavily on the use of open tunings, extending the “stream of consciousness” style of guitar composing he grew up with in Northern California.  “Music started out as a kind of therapy for me,” says Gore.  “Consequently, I am a very emotional player. Now, my style of playing has also become a well honed craft. I am very grateful I can share this with people.”

His buoyant personality and odd sense of humor help add lightness to his shows.  “By the time I’m done with a performance,” explains Gore, “people really know the meaning of the term ‘extroverted introvert’.”  While Gore integrates some of the flashier percussive techniques into his pieces, the poetic quality of his music is preserved.  “Because my music is simple and somewhat rootsy, it’s easy to relate to, which is something I’m thankful for.  Also, it helps keep me grounded.”

Gore is an artist in residence at the Boulder Chautauqua, and endorses LR Baggs Equipment, Ryan Guitars and Morris Guitars. He is founder of the International Guitar Night, sponsored by Acoustic Guitar Magazine. His first CD, produced by Peppino D’Agostino, is called The Path of Least Resistance. His second CD, Legacy: Solo Guitar and Duets, is available on Germany’s Acoustic Music Records Label.  His music has been featured on NPR’s nationally syndicated Echoes Radio, and many other local public radio programs.

Brian founded The International Guitar Night in 1995 as a forum for the world's finest guitarists/composers to play their latest original songs and share musical ideas with their peers in public concert.  This has evolved into critically acclaimed annual tours in the US (starting in 2000),  Canada (starting in 2006) and the UK (starting in 2007),  a CD on Favored Nations Records released in 2004, a guitar instruction book published in 2005, and IGN releases on Warner Music Canada (the 3rd annual CD will be released in 2008).

Press Photos

cecilia ben Brian Gore pierre

 

2009 Tour Schedule


January 20  Manship Theater, Baton Rouge LA
January 22 Whitaker Center, Harrisburg PA
January 23  Manchester Craftsmen Guild, Pittsburgh PA
January 24  The Gordon Center, Owings Mills MD
January 25 Wolf Trap Barns, Vienna VA
January 28  Calvary Center, Philadelphai PA
January 29  Sellersville Theater, Sellersville PA
January 30  The Dana Center, Saint Anselm College, Manchester NH
January 31  The Queens Theater, Queens NY
February 3  Tower Theater, Bend OR
February 4  Walters Cultural Arts Center, Hillsboro OR
February 5  Columbia Theater, Longview WA
February 6  Kirkland Performance Center, Kirkland WA
February 7 Kent High School Performing Arts Center, Kent WA
February 8  Herbst Theater, San Francisco CA
February 10  Tucson Guitar Society concert, Tucson AZ
February 13 Schulman Auditorium, Carlsbad CA
February 14 Gallo Center for the Arts, Modesto CA
February 15 Lancaster Performing Arts Center, Lancaster CA


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November 2008 Canadian Tour

January/February 2009 U.S. Tour

November 2009 Canadian Tour

January/February 2010 U.S. Tour

 

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