Along my life's journey, I have experienced unity off and on, being more or less aware of the impact and influence of every action upon the entire universe. As time goes on, the more I feel connected to all people, animals and universally to the whole of nature. Being that we are all connected, my intention is that every action and behavior contributes, supports and adds value to our interconnectivity, especially through my music. It feels like a nurturing or even a healing process for me and those with whom I share it.

The name of the new album came from my wife, Doatea. The concept of "Azwan" came from observing bees, those solar insects working in the darkness together as one, and by observing flocks of birds flying and dancing together as one. It has been an inspiring symbolic representation of the continuum of music. When seeing "Azwan" written, it can evoke a place, a city or a mood, but when hearing it said out loud, it sounds like "as one." I've been contemplating all the music from "Azwan" for years before actually recording it, taking time to allow all the notes to come together as one.

The process of crafting and composing music is like crossing the desert: the walk is long, tiring, challenging and sometimes feels lonely and hopeless, but there is an oasis and reaching it ultimately becomes the goal. Ideally, taking the stage is the time and place where everything comes together. Besides learning to play what I wrote, I considered how to overcome the challenge of playing every night, how to keep up the excitement. It's a thin line between sticking to what's written and stepping out into the world of improvisation. "Azwan" is primarily a solo instrumental album on which the guitar is conceived as an orchestra, delivering melody, bass, chords and counterpoint in the same space. To it, we add some vocal elements and several collaborations guest musicians.

My approach is similar to that of jazz musicians. While many are highly trained musicians, when they play, it is all about being in the moment and improvising. French guitarist Jean-Marie Ecay, with whom I had the great pleasure of producing the new album, takes a similar approach. He brought in Christophe Cravero on alto and violin and Stephane Kericky on upright bass: two prominent musicians from the French jazz scene. Jean-Marie also plays along with me on the track "Balkangeles".

My quest is to create a space where the guitar and voice tell a story together. Then, I never feel alone when going into "the zone." Bringing the audience along with me is a humbling experience; it's both an honor and a joy.

Pierre Bensusan

Album Credits and Liner Notes

Production: Pierre Bensusan & David Bevan

Compositions, guitare acoustique & vocal: Pierre Bensusan
Lyrics Paroles "Corps Vaudou": Doatea Cornu Bensusan

Guests Invités:
Stéphane Kerecki: upright bass contrebasse (1 & 9)
Jean-Marie Ecay: nylon string guitar guitare à cordes nylon (5)
Christophe Cravero: alto & violin alto et violon (9)

Mixing Mixage : Jamie Ward, Silk Mill Studios, Staffs, England (January 2020 janvier) www.thesilkmill.co.uk

Production artistique: Jean-Marie Ecay & Pierre Bensusan

Recording Enregistrement: Maïkol Seminatore
Dadgad Studio, Château-Thierry, France (between September and December 2019 entre septembre et décembre)

Mastering: Marwan Danoun, Galaxy Studios, Mol, Belgium

Production exécutive: Doatea & Pierre Bensusan
Post-prodution: Maïkol Seminatore & Pierre Bensusan

Cover, inside & back photographies Photos recto, intérieure et verso: ©Christian Taillemite

CD photography Photo sur CD (Ardara, Co. Donegal, Ireland): ©Doatea Cornu-Bensusan
Rear CD photograhy Photo arrière CD (Haikou, China Chine, July juillet 2019): ©Jiangming Gu

Cover design & artwork Maquette et conception graphique: Anne-Marie Cornu

Publishings & Copyrights 2020: Pierre Bensusan (Sacem, France)

Music played on the original "Old Lady" model designed by George Lowden in 1978
Musique jouée sur la Lowden modèle "Old Lady" construite par George Lowden en 1978

Management: Alive Network - www.alivenetwork.com

www.pierrebensusan.com

facebook.com/pierrebensusan
instagram.com/pierrebensusan
youtube.com/user/bensusanhq
twitter.com/pbensusan

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS REMERCIEMENTS

Jean-Marie Ecay to have been my two other ears from the start of this project; also for his vision of the music, friendship and unshakeable support.

Maïkol Seminatore, "Il Dottore", for the sound, his full commitment and insights

Jamie Ward for his great mixing

Christophe Cravero & Stéphane Kerecki for their musicianship

George Lowden for having, since 1978, conceived the guitar I dream out loud with, as well as to have built the current Signature models that have followed George Lowden

Dave Bevan, my manager in England, for his fantastic support and unvaluable insights, also everyone at Alive Network, especially Rich Hearn (Graphism, communication, social networks & newsletters), Tim Laws (webmaster), Jim Hodgekinson (agent) & Cathryn Briggs (graphism, Dadgad 3D Vision logo graphic concept).

Christian Taillemite for our longtime friendship, his colourful vision and to be my road manager throughout Europe.

A very special thanks and my gratitude to the Patrons Sponsors for greatly supporting the production of this album. Peter Jahn, Dale Grote, John & Elaine Memishian, Paul Norman, Steve Sivulka, Serge Guinot, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Jim & Sharon Tabasz, Tom Mowrey, Takao Inoue, Emoretta Yang, Shamus Johnson, Ned & Linda Hearn, Steve & Brian Bongiovanni, Richard Cieslak, George Seldon, Duke Bullard, Larry Birger & "Learn from the Masters Music Outreach" Foundation (www.LMMO.org)

For their friendship, craft, collaboration, advices, listening, support and presence: Roland Gallery, Leslie Dupin, Brenda Lewis, Jeff Schroedl & Hal Leonard, Nick Walton & Wyres Strings, Jürg Vogt & Vovox, Mark Hamre & NeckUp Guitar Support, Arjen Ease & Audio Ease, Klaus Schanz, Thomas Franke, Ranphi Li, Weifeng Li, Sarah Valinsky, Stéphane Maddy Lecyn, Jiangming Gu, Danny McKinney & Requisite Audio Engineering, Rich Barbera, Steve Vai, Christian Hugonnet, Marco Delporte & Woodbrass, Vicelow, Emmanuel Binet, Roberto Lana, Guitong Lee, Nathan Reid, Mark Soileau, Christophe Goudot, Rob Doyle, Christian Leblanc, Stéphane Lebeuf, Philippe Leclerc, Nick Perez & Fabrizio Zucchelli

My son, Théophile, aka Joker Yudat, for dancing his life, and his partner, Rana Nazli.

And finally my wife, Doatea Cornu Bensusan, for her thorough listening of every parcell of this music and be on my side again for this album, and above everything, to be the greatest musician of life I know. You have showed me the most beautiful path. This album is for you!

All the scores of this album + technical details, insights and more can be found in the book "Pierre Bensusan Guitar Collection" (Hal Leonard).

A dedicated page to «Azwan», with write-ups, anecdotes, pictures, lyrics and much more is available at: www.pierrebensusan.com/azwan

DEDICATIONS

#1 to à Théophile Bensusan
#2 to à Brett Tracy
#3 to à Doatea Cornu Bensusan
#4 to à Rana Nazli
#5 to à Serge & Leslie Dupin
#6 to à George Lowden
#7 to à Kenny Rankin
#8 to à Nathan Reid
#9 to à Gonzalo Castro
#10 to à Brendan McKeever
#11 to à Jimmy Yudat
#12 to à Gloria & Peter Pivonka

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