Vol. 3
Drovers Archival, 2025
9/10
The last and, unfortunately, posthumous record from noted Chicago musician, composer, and producer Mike Kirkpatrick and his outfit, The Drovers Unlimited Orchestra, these 10 songs showcase their inimitable brand of jazz-ish sounds.
“The Hidden Track” starts the listen, and uses scrappy drumming and a Celtic spirit, and “Tomorrow Part 1” follows with Billy Harper’s animated tenor sax that suits the busy brass presence.
The middle spot belongs to “Teardrop Falls”, where Bob Palmieri’s dreamy guitar and much intimacy radiates warmth, while “Two Slides” is a clarinet fueled moment that’s as mesmerizing as it is unique.
Further yet, “138 W 19” allows the pipes and drums to mesh with the meticulous sax presence, and “The Root, The Branch, And The Bright Morning Star” exits with a reflective mood via the haze of piano, drums, winds and brass.
A truly unclassifiable effort that recruits world music and Irish nods, this final piece of Kirkpatrick’s career puts a firm exclamation point on an artist who knew few boundaries and approached musical expression in a way that few others would dare.
Travels well with: Tom DiCillo- Shot Of Blue; Matt Von Roderick- Celestial Heart