John Carroll Kirby — Dance Ancestral

Within the broad field of the keyboard composition sits the LA-based John Carroll Kirby, who has written for, produced, and collaborated with, a host of musical all-stars. In his latest release, Dance Ancestral, the fifth Kirby has created for Stones Throw, the recording polymath has managed to round off much of the harder edges of free improvisation by mixing in a lighter, ambient vibe to envelop his soloing on keys and synths. 

Proof of this warmer vision is announced in Dance Ancestral’s opening track, “Dawn of a New Day,” a collaboration with genre pioneer Laraaji – a new day indeed! The lilting, almost effortless compositions hue very closely to this smoothed-out version of Kirby – both savoury and saccharine –which may leave more erudite ears in unfamiliar territory.

On the whole, the nine tracks are as modal as any traditional jazz, with one exception: in place of chords and their anchored progressions there is an ambient levity, a feeling, really, that holds sway. Like a good landscape painting, filled with frogs (“Frog Life”) and muses (“Pan’s Dance”), Dance Ancestral unfolds like a score, one set to a film that has yet to be written. If there is any doubt of this fact, the final track, “Gabriel’s Gig,” is perhaps a nod to Ennio Morricone’s “Gabriel’s Oboe” from his magisterial The Mission.

Ultimately, Kirby has gone fishing sans hook, and those looking for a sudden crescendo or moment of exuberance are left wanting, as I was. Sweet is sweet, but maybe that much sweeter when placed against the backdrop of the difference afforded by dissonance.