Kirk Lightsey

Kirk Lightsey is a highly respected American jazz pianist known for his fluid, lyrical style and deep sense of swing. Born in Detroit in 1937, Lightsey came up in a fertile jazz scene that helped shape his soulful approach to the piano. Over the course of his career, he has played with a host of jazz legends, including Dexter Gordon, Chet Baker, and Woody Shaw. Throughout the 1980s, he gained wider recognition as a member of The Leaders and through a string of well-regarded solo and collaborative recordings.

Lightsey is particularly admired for his sensitive touch and the way he weaves melody and harmony with subtlety and finesse. In addition to being a sought-after accompanist, he has also built a solid catalog as a bandleader, showcasing his versatility across standards, bebop, and more modern compositions. Even well into his later years, Lightsey continues to perform and record, earning acclaim for recent live albums that capture his enduring artistry and connection to jazz tradition.

Genres

Hard Bop

Jazz

Contemporary Jazz

Jazz Fusion

Avant-garde Jazz

Bebop

Post-bop

Cool Jazz

Soul Jazz

Straight-ahead Jazz

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Kenny Barron

Cedar Walton

Herbie Hancock

Chick Corea

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Barry Harris

Steve Kuhn

Bill Evans

Keith Jarrett

Brad Mehldau

Latest Release

Live at Smalls Jazz Club

Kirk Lightsey

Ep - 6 Tracks - Released November 4, 2022