Kirk Lightsey

Photo by Tom Beetz

Kirkland "Kirk" Lightsey (b. Feb. 15, 1937, Detroit, Michigan) is an American jazz pianist.

Lightsey had piano instruction from age 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, Adam Taubitz and Harold Land.

Rooted in the hard bop genre, Lightsey's sound is marked by a certain openness and even playfulness. He is also an accomplished flautist and occasionally doubles on flute in live performances.

Discography

As leader

• Habiba with Rudolph Johnson (Gallo Records, 1974)
• Lightsey 2 (Sunnyside, 1982)
• Isotope (Criss Cross Jazz, 1983)
• Shorter by Two with Harold Danko (Sunnyside, 1983)
• Everything Happens to Me (Timeless Records, 1983)
• Lightsey Live (Sunnyside, 1985)
• First Affairs (Limetree Records, 1986)
• Everything Is Changed (Sunnyside, 1986)
• Kirk 'n' Marcus (Criss Cross, 1986)
• From Kirk to Nat (Criss Cross, 1990)
• Goodbye Mr. Evans (Evidence Records, 1994)
• The Nights of Bradley's (Sunnyside, 2004)
• Estate (Itinera Records, 2007)

As sideman

With Blue Mitchell & Harold Land

• Mapenzi (Concord, 1977)

References

• Kirk Lightsey at Allmusic