Chieftains Have a Homecoming at Royce Hall

The Chieftains were precisely the right choice as the first ensemble to perform at the recently reopened Royce Hall, following the inaugural run of “Monsters of Grace.” The veteran Irish group is a longtime fixture at the venerable hall. But, more important, their music--which has reached out to encompass sounds and rhythms from virtually every part of the world--reflects the creatively omnivorous approach of the UCLA arts and music programming.

Friday’s performance followed the familiar Chieftains’ pattern: a few jigs, a ballad or two, guest artists offering a taste of invigorating step dancing, more guest performers adding guitar and vocals to the Chieftains’ mix. And, holding everything together, piper Paddy Moloney’s ineffable sense of humor.

This time around, there were a few pitch problems here and there, especially among the two violinists. But the individual playing was sometimes awesome, notably during flutist Matt Molloy’s breath-defying showcase soloing. And the easy blending with other musical forms on several pieces--especially the Galician music of Spain--was a potent reminder of the far-reaching qualities of Celtic music.

What made the performance special, however, was what always brightens Chieftains’ appearances--their capacity to bring the audience into the music. Perhaps because they have been in existence for 35 years, a stretch that reaches back to a time when there was far less separation between musicians and listeners than there is today, the Chieftains unaffectedly share their pleasure in the music.

And, for the full-house audience at Royce, that quality of sharing lent the hall’s large grand space, with its clear, precise acoustics, the noisy intimacy of a friendly Irish pub.