It’s hard to geolocate exactly where LA-based John Carroll Kirby lands, genre-wise, except to assure you that it’s deliciously spacious, mildly psychedelic, pleasantly slow-tempoed, and groovy AF. Whatever this lovely funk-jazz concoction is, it definitely tips its hat to Herbie Hancock’s 70s synth magic and the under-recognized border-pushing catalog of another Herbie — Herbie Mann.

John is best known as a session player for his collaborations with Harry Styles, Frank Ocean, Steve Lacey, and Eddie Chacon — but his own releases over the years have been capturing our attention for awhile. Give “Septet” or his latest record “Blowout” a listen. He stops in at the Iron Horse between a run of dates with Khruangbin this summer.