Pierre Bensusan was interviewed by Scott Simon on NPR yesterday. I was driving to NJ to visit my sister and happily tuned in to Pierre's interview. He has been touring around the US since January 15th to promote his new recording "Vividly". In an email to me he explains, "C'est grand l'Amérique :)" If you haven't heard of Pierre, he is one of the most accomplished and celebrated guitarists of his generation. Born in North Africa and living in France he has a unique guitar styling that captures his musical heritage and passion for harmonic resonance.

I met Pierre in Paris in the early 1990's where I was living and working as a musician and singer songwriter. He asked me to translate a powerful and deeply metaphorical lyric written by Jaques Higelinentitled "Awali," I jumped at the chance. I even experienced a day of his guitar mastering when he gave me a workshop on the open tuning DADGAD. Check out Pierre Bensusan. He's a world class treasure.

Do you love French music? Gay Marshall is a fantastic interpreter of Piaf. Scott Simon interviewed Gay on NPR. Here’s the link:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121119787

For any Piaf fans, Gay's CD is essential. Her interview was fun to listen toand I hope it brings Gay the kind of national attention and admiration she deserves. I immediately went to her website and ordered a CD. She is also a formidable singer-songwriter and sings just as wonderfully in English (we co-wrote songs together in the 90’s when I lived in Paris). Gay's website has an MP3 of ‘Heartbroken’ a song in which I composed the music.

http://www.gaymarshall.com/

from NPR:

Edith Piaf is usually thought of as a gifted, tragic figure: a great voice and spirit who sang through lost loves, loneliness, drink and depression. But actress and singer Gay Marshall takes a different approach to Piaf, seeing a joyful, mischievous side to France's "Little Sparrow." Host Scott Simon speaks with Marshall, who just finished a one-woman Piaf show and has a new release, Gay Marshall Sings Piaf, La Vie L'amour.