Biography
Against the Grain is an appropriate title for Ryan LeBlanc’s latest CD. After all, his approach to playing music is anything but conventional.
Weaving together rich acoustic guitar tones, the unique timbre of a claw hammer banjo, and the sweet, lonely voice of harmonica, Ryan creates layered melodic soundscapes that are nothing short of captivating. A strong rhythmic feel from cajon (box drum) and djembe is accented by the resonating tones of his instruments as his hands dance gently between fret board and body.
Against The Grain is a live-off-the-floor sampling of Ryan’s unique sound. No overdubs. No multi-tracking. Ryan’s unique performance style defies genre. He has endured every label from percussive blues and alternative roots to jazz and world fusion. Of course, none of these titles come close to capturing what Ryan’s music really is but they do touch on the elements it includes. A grassroots orchestra maybe?
In recent years, Ryan has shared sound on many festival stages including the Montreal Jazz Festival, the Stan Rogers Folk Festival, Deep Roots Festival, Winterfolk, The Tremblant Blues Festival, The Harvest Jazz an Blues Festival, The Atlin Music Festival and Canadian Music Week among others. He has become a favorite around Maritime concert halls and has had the privilege to perform as part of a number of international delegations in Paris and Roubaix, France, Memphis, Tennessee and Austin, Texas. Ryan has been invited to perform at the Open Strings International Guitar Festival in Osnabruck Germany in October 2008. He is the only Canadian to be invited to the event showcasing more than 16 acoustic guitar masters from around the world. In addition he will tour in the UK, France, Belgium and Germany.
Instrumentation
Guitar, Banjo, Harmonica, Djembe, Box Drum
Discography
Down Deep Released May 2004
Against The Grain Released October 2007
Links
| http://www.myspace.com/ryanleblancguitar |
| Ryan Leblanc Myspace |