Lonnie Liston Smith
- Type: Influential Sideman
- Born: December 28, 1940, Richmond, Virginia
Biography
A pianist and keyboardist who was a key pioneer of the spiritual jazz and jazz-funk movements. After influential stints with Pharoah Sanders (on 'Karma') and Miles Davis, Smith formed his own group, the Cosmic Echoes. With albums like 'Expansions,' he created a unique and popular sound that blended ethereal, cosmic textures with infectious, funky grooves, becoming a major influence on the quiet storm and acid jazz genres.