Kirk Lightsey

Kirkland "Kirk" Lightsey is an American jazz pianist. He was born 15 February 1937

Biography
Lightsey had piano instruction from the age of five and studied piano and clarinet through high school. After serving 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.

He is also an accomplished flutist and occasionally doubles on flute in live performances. He has been living in Paris since 2000.

As leader

 * Habiba (Gallo, 1974) with Rudolph Johnson
 * Lightsey 1 (Sunnyside, 1983)
 * Isotope (Criss Cross, 1983)
 * Everything Happens to Me (Timeless, 1983) with Chet Baker
 * Shorter by Two (Sunnyside, 1983) with Harold Danko
 * Lightsey 2 (Sunnyside, 1984)
 * Lightsey Live (Sunnyside, 1985)
 * First Affairs (Limetree, 1986)
 * Everything Is Changed (Sunnyside, 1986)
 * Kirk 'n Marcus (Criss Cross, 1986) with Marcus Belgrave
 * From Kirk to Nat (Criss Cross, 1990)
 * Goodbye Mr. Evans (Evidence, 1994)
 * The Nights of Bradley's (Sunnyside, 1984 [2004])
 * Estate (Itinera, 2006)
 * Everybody’s Song But Our Own (33 Records, 2008) with Louise Gibbs
 * Lightsey To Gladden (Criss Cross Jazz, 2008)
 * Le Corbu (Unit Records, 2015) with Tibor Elekes, Don Moye
 * Some Place Called Where (Losen Records, 2017) with Marilena Paradisi
 * Coltrane Revisited (SteepleChase LookOut ,2021)

As sideman
With Chet Baker With Kenny Burrell With Agostino Di Giorgio With Ricky Ford With Sonny Fortune With Dexter Gordon With Clifford Jordan With Louis Hayes With Blue Mitchell and Harold Land With David "Fathead" Newman With David Murray With The Leaders With Jimmy Raney With Rufus Reid With Roots With Saheb Sarbib With Woody Shaw With Sonny Stitt With Rudolph Johnson
 * Smokin' with the Chet Baker Quintet (Prestige, 1965)
 * Groovin' with the Chet Baker Quintet (Prestige, 1965)
 * Comin' On with the Chet Baker Quintet (Prestige, 1965)
 * Cool Burnin' with the Chet Baker Quintet (Prestige, 1965)
 * Boppin' with the Chet Baker Quintet (Prestige, 1965)
 * Sky Street (Fantasy, 1975)
 * The Path (Fonò, 2001)
 * Shorter Ideas (Muse, 1984)
 * Looking Ahead (Muse, 1986)
 * Saxotic Stomp (Muse, 1987)
 * Four in One (Blue Note, 1994)
 * American Classic (Elektra Musician, 1982)
 * Two Tenor Winner (Criss Cross, 1984)
 * The Super Quartet (Timeless, 1994)
 * Mapenzi (Concord, 1977)
 * Heads Up (Atlantic, 1987)
 * Fire! Live at the Village Vanguard (Atlantic, 1989)
 * Black & Black (Red Baron, 1991)
 * Mudfoot (Black Hawk, 1986)
 * Out Here Like This (Black Saint, 1987)
 * Unforeseen Blessings (Black Saint, 1988)
 * Heaven Dance (Sunnyside, 1988)
 * Slipping and Sliding (Sound Hills, 1994)
 * The Master (Criss Cross, 1983)
 * Perpetual Stroll (Theresa, 1980)
 * Saying Something  (1995)
 * For Bird & Diz (In+Out, 1996)
 * It Couldn't Happen Without You (Soul Note)
 * Imagination (Muse, 1987)
 * Pow! (Prestige, 1965)
 * The Second Coming (Black Jazz Records, 1973)