One musician and his acoustic guitar will fill the David Ogden Stiers Theatre when Pierre Bensusan performs an intimate concert at the Newport Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, Nov. 17.
The French-Algerian guitarist, singer and composer has spent five decades developing a sound that draws on folk, jazz, classical and North African music. He earned the nickname “Mister DADGAD” for his command of a tuning named for the notes of the guitar’s six open strings. That tuning gives him room to let notes ring against one another as the melody moves.
Bensusan released his debut album, “Près de Paris” at 17, earning him recognition at the Montreux Festival. Guitar Player magazine readers later voted him best world music guitarist, and his album “Encore” won an Independent Music Award for best live album.
His playing has made an impression well beyond acoustic guitar circles. Michael Hedges named a composition for him, Steve Vai released three of his records on the Favored Nations label and Donny Osmond brought him into the studio for “Start Again.”
Tuesday’s limited seating concert begins at 7 pm at the Newport Performing Arts Center, located at 777 W Olive Street. Tickets are $35. For more information, go to coastarts.org or call 541-265-2787.