Today we’re listening to John Carroll Kirby, an American pianist and composer from Los Angeles. At age 12, he started taking piano lessons. “My mom told me I needed to do something other than school and video games,” he told us. “My best friend Michael did piano lessons, so I did it too.” He stuck with it, and studied jazz at USC, going on to record with Blood Orange, Solange, and Frank Ocean. Since we first recommended Kirby’s music back in 2020, he’s released two scores and four albums. Septet from 2021 was a standout – original, quirky compositions broadly in the jazz/funk vein. His latest record, Piano Works 2016-2026, just came out at the end of August. That one collects impromptu recordings made on pianos while touring. The pieces are delicate, intimate, but convey the tender and whimsical flavor that defines Kirby. A conversation with John follows the streaming links.
Piano Works 2016-2026 - John Carroll Kirby (44m, no vocals)
Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube Music / Amazon Music / Tidal
Septet - John Carroll Kirby (47m, no vocals)
Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music / YouTube Music / Amazon Music / Tidal
What’s your earliest memory of music?
Driving to Kindergarten, we had Greatest Hits cassette tapes of The Beach Boys and the Irish Rovers. We listened to them on repeat. I remember “In My Room” made me feel weird and sad.
How did you get started on piano? What was the piano you learned on, and the first piece you learned that felt like a real accomplishment?
I got started on the piano at about age 12. My mom told me I needed to do something other than school and video games. My best friend Michael did piano lessons, so I did it too. Both my Grandmothers had yellow pianos which I inherited. One Grandma tried getting into music, she tried to learn Appalachian dulcimer and harp, and singing but quit when her teacher asked her if she was deaf ;/ My first teacher was named Roark Hunnicut. We would spend a lot of time talking about trippy concepts, he liked Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley type stuff. Unconventionally the first tricky piece he taught me was the intro to “Riders on The Storm” by The Doors.
What were your first original recordings like? How did you make them?
My first recordings were cool, I wish I had them. I would use cassette handheld dictation recorders. They would sound distorted and compressed.
Which artists/albums pointed you in the direction of your own original sound?
My very first influences were Jimmy Smith, Ray Manzarek and Money Mark. I soon thereafter got into Herbie Hancock, Ahmad Jamal, Duke Ellington, and Fats Waller.
Piano Works 2016-2026 collects impromptu pieces on the road. Which sessions stick out in your memory the most?
A few stick out: “Cecilia 14” was recorded in London. I was on a white piano, there was a beautiful Ragdoll Cat that would come in the house and sit with me. “Rain Walking” was recorded in Rome on a very old and broken, but beautiful piano. I composed the piece around the pianos limitations (dead notes, out of tune notes, overly sustained notes).
“Empty Room” was recorded New Years Day, at my friend Tex Crick’s house in Wollongong Australia.
How do you discover new music these days? Any recent notable finds?
Still a lot through friends turning me onto stuff, IRL or on IG, and my own research on the internet. I saw an interview with Jim O’Rourke where he recommended Kyle Gann, Hyperchromatica. My friend Macca played One Half of Bent, “Ecstasy,” on his NTS show the other day.
Name an underrated artist from the past 50 years.
Egberto Gismonti
What are you working on next?
I have an album with my band that should come out next year. I’ve been writing a new album with Eddie Chacon. Can’t wait to share all this stuff :)
