Pierre Bensusan and 50 Years of Jazz

By Ross Boissoneau | Aug. 23, 2025

French-Algerian jazz guitarist Pierre Bensusan returns to the region for the first time in eight years when he performs Aug. 28 at the Chalfonte in Elk Rapids (aka the cinema). “I’m celebrating 50 years of doing this. I’m shocked at 50 years,” he says with a chuckle. Over that half-century he’s earned countless fans, among them numerous guitarists: Leo Kottke, Mark Knopfler, Andrew York, and Steve Lukather are among those who have sung his praises. He’s recorded some 16 albums since his first foray at 17; his most recent is Azwan but the latest recording to feature his guitar is Donny Osmond’s Start Again (he only met Osmond in person on this tour). As a solo performer, Bensusan revels in seeing each performance as a new chance to explore his music with a new audience. For ticket information, go to PierreBensusan.com and click Tours.