Kirk Lightsey


Kirkland "Kirk" Lightsey is an American jazz pianist.

Biography

Lightsey had piano instruction from the age of five and studied piano and clarinet through high school. After service in the Army, Lightsey worked in Detroit and California in the 1960s as an accompanist to singers. He also worked with jazz musicians such as Yusef Lateef, Betty Carter, Pharoah Sanders, Bobby Hutcherson, Sonny Stitt, Chet Baker, and Kenny Burrell. From 1979 to 1983 he toured with Dexter Gordon and was a member of The Leaders in the late 1980s. During the 1980s he led several sessions of his own, including duets with pianist Harold Danko. In the 1980s and since he has worked with Jimmy Raney, Clifford Jordan, Woody Shaw, David Murray, Joe Lee Wilson, Louis Stewart, Adam Taubitz, Harold Land and Gregory Porter.
He is also an accomplished flautist and occasionally doubles on flute in live performances. He has been living in Paris since 2000.

Discography

As leader

With Chet Baker
With Kenny Burrell
With Agostino Di Giorgio
With Ricky Ford
With Sonny Fortune
With Clifford Jordan
With Louis Hayes
With Blue Mitchell and Harold Land
With David "Fathead" Newman
With The Leaders
With Jimmy Raney
With Rufus Reid
With Roots
With Saheb Sarbib
With Woody Shaw
With Sonny Stitt
With Rudolph Johnson