French-Algerian acoustic guitarist Pierre Bensusan, along with many guitar luminaries who took part in the 2026 New York Guitar Festival at Bryant Park, are part of the latest Soundcheck Podcast.
Pierre Bensusan – "Intuite" (Soundcheck Podcast)
The French guitarist Pierre Bensusan was actually born in Algeria, and the sounds of North Africa have never been far from his music. He showed an early interest in Irish folk music in the late 70s, and the sounds of the drone, common to both North African and Irish music, led him to play the guitar in the tuning known as DADGAD, the notes that the six strings are tuned to. Bensusan has also incorporated wordless vocal effects, and a little over a week ago he took part in this year’s New York Guitar Festival at Bryant Park, where he played a piece called “Intuite.” Pierre Bensusan and some of the other guitarists from the festival are in today’s episode of Soundcheck, our twice weekly podcast.