21 f 12 shots from the fRoots Rocket Launcher a dozen leading questions to fire at Pierre Bensusan


If you were given the funds to organise a concert bill, who would the artists be?


Ry Cooder, Egberto Gismonti, Paco De


Lucia, Wayne Shorter, A R Rahman, Herbie Hancock, Hermeto Pascoal, Hopkinson Smith, Roberto Aussel, Yoko Kanno, Wadih Al Safi, Idir, T-Pain, Take 6, Virginia Rodrigues, and maybe me… but only after the audience is all gone.


Which totally obscure record do you most treasure and would like more people to know about?


Monument by Gene Parsons, featuring Clarence White, Vassar Clements and the Stanley Brothers. Gene sings, plays guitar, bass, drums, harmonica, pedal steel guitar, banjo. Clarence does some vocal har- monies, plays mandolin and String Bender guitar. It’s difficult to explain why some recordings are simply magic, but this one is from beginning till end. Beyond Gene’s authenticity that is touching, it’s the pieces, their delivery and some rare ‘devil’ notes and colours that make this album last in my memory. |t’s also mixed with a bit of nostal- gia for me; it’s like a hardener that fixes memories and takes l’alma [the soul] back there. I was 16… now 52, I still love this record. There are many albums that simply won’t stand the test of time like this one.


I also got to meet Gene in 1974, in Amsterdam, when he was playing with the Flying Burrito Brothers, thanks to Bill Keith who I was touring with. We became friends and I have visited him several times in northern California since then. He is one of the musicians I would have loved to put a band together with. Maybe…


What was the best live gig you ever saw?


Take 6 at le Théâtre du Chatelet in Paris in the winter of 2010. The best a cap- pella vocal band ever, so joyful and immensely musical and talented. I had a smile on my face for days after that show. The bass singer was celebrating his birth- day in Paris that day, so his five pals had prepared a little singing birthday present, live on stage. After they finished, the entire audience sang him Joyeux Anniver- saire. He was moved. Their musical offer- ing was just what we all needed.


And what was the worst? A concert organised by the AFGPA-


ASEF – the Association of Fingerstyle Guitar Players Against the Abuse of Speed Excess on the Fretboard. That night, there were 1000 guitar players on stage playing Freight Train. I wasn’t part of it but was still won- dering, what was I doing in the audience?


What was your own best ever gig?


Sorry for my lack of modesty, but as there has been more than one awful gig, it would be difficult to point to only one best


ever gig. Once, you are ‘there’ – fluid, musi- cial, inspired, happy and so in sync – you wonder why you are not ‘there’ more often. I would say playing solo at The Half Moon in Putney (spring 2009), or at McCabe’s in Santa Monica (CA) later that same year, or a duet concert with Didier Malherbe in South Shields some years ago. But the best one is still to come, I can feel it…


And what was your worst?


A concert I did in le Théâtre de Chartres many years ago. To be honest, there have been several awful ones in a 35-year career, where spirit and music seemed just not to be there. It’s depressing alright but a great chance when you really appreciate how bad it was, a great incentive to understand why, and move on and transform it.


What’s the professional achievement you’re most proud of?


Each new album. The pride or enthusi- asm lasts at least 30 minutes after the album is done… Then I feel like I am just starting off all over again, and my hope, drive, momentum and expectations all go into the next music to come out and the next recording project.


What’s the most embarrassing thing you ever did in public?


It was a concert in a small club in Geneva about 32 years ago. I had eaten a cheese and mushroom fondue just before going on stage. I was literally sleeping dur- ing the performance, or just about.


Another one was in Germany, after I


recorded Solilaï. I was touring with several German players, including Peter Finger,


and our tour producer had put an alarm clock on stage to remind us not to play over time. I did by 5 minutes and the alarm clock went off in front of 1200 people. A funny reminder not to play too long.


Which song or piece of music would you most like to have written yourself?


How Can I Forget – I don’t know who wrote it, but Kenny Rankin sang it. There are some pieces of music that will accom- pany my journey down here until the last curve, this song is one of them.


Self Portrait In 3 Colours by Charlie Mingus is another one.


Who was the first musician or singer you were inspired to emulate?


I think it was Beethoven, or Chopin, or Bach, or Cat Stevens, Django, or maybe Joni Mitchell. I don’t remember who came first.


Who was the last-but-one musician or singer you lusted after?


The pianist Bill Evans. His musical mind, his presence in every molecule of any piece I have heard him play is simply phenomenal. I love a lot of musicians but this one in par- ticular is like a beacon in my life.


If you had a rocket launcher, who or what would be the target, and why?


The target would be any manufactur- er of rocket launchers, anywhere in the world. Do I really need to explain why?


Pierre’s tenth studio album Vividly is due for release at the end of September and his European tour reaches Ireland during November. www.pierrebensusan.com F


root salad


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