Ken Aldcroft Group Kirby Sideroad, Micheal Clifton, Toronto Downtown Jazz Society, December 2004.

Formalism and freedom co-mingle in this double CD offering from guitarist/leader Aldcroft. The title track features a discernable groove and some ensemble passages that sound notated in spots, then veer off into collective improvisation. Thus it is with the balance of Kirby Sideroad - an often sombre, highly textured recording that is bereft of anything as cliched as an emotional climax. Alto saxophonist Evan Shaw, bassist Wes Neal and drummer Joe Sorbora are equal to the task with obvious technical and intuitive skills on their respective instruments. Inside / outside stuff - but mostly outside.