Backroad Carnival by Cory Seznec

Backroad Carnival by Cory Seznec

For a couple of decades now the idea of infusing African influences into blues has been explored (Bob Brozman, Corey Harris, Kevin Brown and many others) but in many instances, these melanges end up being juxtaposition rather than blend. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but Cory Seznec's latest Backroad Carnival is definitely more blend than juxtaposition. Seznec is a French-American guitarist who plays with a regular band in Addis Abeba, so the African thing is in his blood, as much as the picking from his (presumably Appalachian ;-)) roots. The album is a deliciously low-key mix of these. Seznec's playing is sharp but never looses it's groove, no one plays flashy (despite a crack team of musicians including the excellent David Chalumeau on harmonica). A delightful listen.