Kirk Reese

Kirk Reese has been an active part of the jazz scene in Pennsylvania for thirty years.  He has performed with numerous notable jazz artists including alto saxophonist Phil Woods, Lou Marini, trumpeter Marvin Stamm, Russian trumpeter Valery Ponomarev, Tim Warfield Jr, Ralph Moore, Billy Higgins, “Blue Lou” Marini and jazz violinist John Blake.

Reese has been on the music faculty at Messiah College since 1993, teaching jazz improvisation & piano.  In that time has established a culture of small-group jazz that has enhanced the department, reinforced the big bands, and has been the catalyst for many students developing a life long appreciation for the art form. He is a clinician for many venues, including improvisation workshops throughout the region. He also serves as an artist/faculty member for the Central PA Friends of Jazz Camp at Messiah College.

His bands have opened for Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, BB King, Joe Morello (Dave Brubeck), Bob Mintzer (Yellow Jackets), and others. He attended Elizabethtown College and studied piano, music theory and composition privately with Ron Thomas in Philadelphia and jazz theory with Steve Giordano and Cedar Walton.

He also maintains a private teaching schedule in Elizabethtown & York, PA. He is active in the recording studio, releasing his own record, Impressions, in 2016 as well as playing on & writing for TRP (The Reese Project)’s recordings & many others.