He didn’t touch a piano until 14 — now he’s a Grammy-nominated jazz artist redefining what modern jazz can be.

Jazz, legacy, and late starts — a deep conversation with one of today’s most exciting musicians.

Jahari Stampley, one of the most decorated jazz musicians of his generation, is the winner of the 2023 Herbie Hancock Institute International Competition, a 2024 Grammy nominee, and the 2025 ASCAP Herb Alpert Composers Award recipient.

From touring with legends like Stanley Clarke to hitting #1 on the iTunes Jazz chart with his debut album Still Listening, Jahari has moved effortlessly between jazz clubs, concert halls, film, and orchestral stages. His latest album, What A Time, blends jazz, gospel, pop, and cinematic influences — and features an all-star lineup including Keyon Harrold, Derrick Hodge, and his mother, D-Erania Stampley.

In this wide-ranging interview, Jahari opens up about starting piano “late,” navigating performance anxiety, protecting artistic integrity in a commercial industry, and why curiosity — not pressure — has guided his career. We also dive into his innovative music education app Piano Chronicles, his love of technology and gaming, and what success really means to him at this stage of life. Plus, we get to hear a track from "What a Time."

🎶 Live Show Alert:

The Healdsburg Winter Jazz Festival welcomes the Jahari Stampley Family Trio on Friday, January 30 at 7pm, where Jahari will debut brand-new, unreleased music.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Realizing you’re musical — and why starting piano at 14 changed everything
  

• Growing up in a musical family without feeling boxed in
  

• Chicago’s musical legacy and how it shaped Jahari’s sound
  

• From jazz clubs to Carnegie Hall, film, and symphony orchestras
  

• Overcoming stage anxiety and staying present during live performance
  

• Handling on-stage chaos and technical failures in real time
  

• Balancing artistic integrity with industry expectations
  

• Building albums from concept to final cut
  

• Collaborating with major artists — and why reliability matters more than ego
  

• Making music with his mom (and her surprising drone-pilot skills!)
  

• Redefining success beyond fame and accolades
  

• Advice for musicians just starting out
  

• Piano Chronicles: blending gaming, learning, and music education
  

• Guilty-pleasure listening, dream jam sessions, and what’s next

🎁 Giveaway Alert

We’re hosting a special ticket giveaway for the Healdsburg Winter Jazz Festival on Instagram. Follow @pod_locally for your chance to win tickets to the "Good Vibes" show with Joel Ross on Feb.1.

Beer Review

After our conversation about a jazz musician’s life, one idea lingered—collaboration—and it felt fitting to pour a beer built on that same spirit: “Disciples of Foam,” a hoppy pilsner collaboration from Laughing Monk Brewing and Geisthaus Brewing. Known for doing classic styles right, these two Northern California breweries deliver a bright, bubbly, and crisp pilsner at 5.7% ABV that cuts nicely through winter’s heavier beers, using classic German hops Huell Melon and Saphir to bring light citrus brightness alongside grassy, malty notes. It pours with a beautiful foamy head and drinks effortlessly—an ideal pairing for sunshine, snacks, and the shared creativity that comes from great collaborators coming together.

🎧 Listen now and discover how a late start became a defining strength.