Kim Kalesti at Da Milio

Kim Kalesti b

A culmination of a creative life.

Composer, singer, songwriter, pianist, storyteller, Kim Kalesti has been a visionary in downtown New York City for over forty years.

She has expressed herself through her grandiose singing and raw, spiritual storytelling. Her compositions are personal reflections and contemplative observation, a philosophy to live by.

A catalogue that consists of piano/voice thematic albums, “Live From My Mind”, “Diggin The Dirt”, “New Worlds Became Me”, a choral album “For The Universe”, EP “All My Life” singles “I Love Today”, “Take A Walk With Me”, “Reflections”, “If You Want To See What Love Is” and a very charming Christmas song “Ringing In The Bells”.

Kim’s EP of three songs “Whenever You’re Around Me”, City Cave Dwellers” and “All My Life” were released in 2025 with platinum songwriter, musician, producer Jake Sinclair. Known for his work with, to name a few, Weazer, Panic at the Disco and 5SOS.

Her latest album of pop groove jazz influenced compositions is scheduled for release January 26, 2026 with producer Sinclair on electric bass, Kim on piano/voice and Olive Faber drums. “New York City Life” featuring 13 original songs, mostly of joyous upbeat rhythms with two infectious ballads “Can’t Remember “ and “Just Because I Am Old and I’m Grey” shows her torch song prowess taking the listeners to their heart place.

Kim’s vibrant spirit and infectious energy caught the attention of viral sensation Humans of NY, Brandon Stanton, who photographed her and allowed her to share her story with over 30 million online and in a 2025 published book called, “Dear New York”.

In 2024, Tony award-winning singer Audra McDonald discovered Kim’s song “I Love Today” and since then has performed it in concerts across the United States and abroad.

A culmination of a creative life in New York City also came with motherhood with jazz blues singer Marion Cowings. Giving birth to two very talented children who have both flourished in their own careers. Their son AC Lincoln tap dancer, vocalist, songwriter, producer and daughter Emily King a four-time Grammy nominated recording artist.

Embraced by the New York Jazz scene in the 1980s, Kim has performed with and on the same stage as Jazz legends such as Dizzy Gillespie, Joe Williams, Betty Carter, and Clark Terry. From 1980 to 1997 jazz vocal duet album with Marion Cowings on the EmArcy label, “Kim and Marion” and “If You Could See Me Now” produced by Swing Journal Japan’s Kyoshi “Boxman” Koyama featuring pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Eddie Gomez, drummer Al Foster, and saxophonist Gary Bartz. Earlier big band recording “Inside” 1983 with Don Elliot.

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