Live on Forum: Jahari Stampley Family Trio
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From KQED in San Francisco, I'm Nina Kim. Coming up on Forum, it's been a week. Let's hear a live musical performance by the Jahari-Stampley family trio ahead of their show at the San Francisco Jazz Festival this weekend. Stampley, an award-winning pianist who is known for melding genres like funk, gospel, and rock, calls his forthcoming album What a Time a sonic reflection of the joy of a spontaneous jam, the fire of resistance, and the calm of resolution. We

We talked to Stampley about his unique style and what it's like to play with his mom. Join us.

Welcome to Forum. I'm Ina Kim, and I'm here in the studio with the Jahari Stampley family trio. When Jahari Stampley won the Herbie Hancock Jazz Festival in 2023, the Times' Giovanni Russinello described him as having a style all his own, unforced, as if, quote, "...powered from an internal engine, an artist you wanted to hear again and to know more about."

Well, listeners, today that's exactly what we get to do as the Jahari-Stampley family trio starts us off with Prelude on Trance and Journey to Madrid. ♪♪♪

Ofri Nahimya on drums. This is our first time playing together ever.

My very own mother, D'Irania Stampley on bass. She's only been playing bass for one year now. ♪

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Wow, incredible. Jahari, I wish the audience could see the speed and grace of your hands. Because did I read right that you learned to play by mimicking the piano player's hands? Yeah, it was surreal. I used to watch YouTubers that played piano and I would look at the shapes and play it kind of like a video game. It was like the buttons I would just copy and just mimic. So I used to do that. I didn't know the note names.

I just used to mimic the buttons that they were pressing. It's kind of weird. Yeah, your first instrument, it was the drums, right? It was the drums, yeah. I started drums. When I was seven years old, I used to play even my high school drumming band. I was in marching band. So I think translating it to piano was...

Because in a way, piano is like 88 drums. So you just play the, you know. Yeah, 88 drums. So that's how you connect the two. And you're out of breath because you were playing so incredibly energetically. You've got sweat dripping off your forehead. And you and your mom doing vocals. Oh my gosh, yeah. And my mom is surreal because she's also a pilot. She got her pilot's license and...

She is incredible. She's the type of person to just learn everything. So I asked her to learn the bass and she was like, yeah, I don't play it at all. I don't even own a bass. But she practiced in like a month and she was ready for the show. And it was crazy. She's playing all this music and it's just natural. It's just...

really incredible. It's just amazing. It sounds like she's a big musical inspiration to you. And I actually want to invite our listeners to tell us, you know, what Jahari Stampley's music, the Jahari Stampley family trio's music is making you think of or feel or questions you have for Jahari about his music, his methods, his

how he, his relationship with the instrument. Did you ever perform music with a parent? You can tell us by emailing forum at kqed.org, finding us on our social channels, Blue Sky, Facebook, Instagram, or Threads at KQED Forum. And you can always call us 866-733-6786, 866-733-6786. More with the Jahari Sampley family trio after the break. Stay with us. This is Forum. I'm Mina Kim. ♪

Support for Forum comes from the University of San Francisco School of Management. Celebrating 100 years of partnership with the Bay Area business community, the USF School of Management connects students to the city's vibrant culture, hands-on internships, and a wealth of career opportunities.

where AI and sustainability are integrated into every facet of business education, and where students bring innovation, ethics, and entrepreneurial leadership to a planet in need.

The University of San Francisco School of Management. Change the world from here. Support for KQED podcasts comes from Earthjustice. As a national legal nonprofit, Earthjustice has more than 200 full-time lawyers who fight for a healthy environment. They wield the power of the law to protect people's health, preserve magnificent places and wildlife, and advance clean energy to combat climate change. Earthjustice fights in court because the Earth needs a good lawyer.

Learn more about how you can get involved and become a supporter at earthjustice.org. Welcome back to Forum. I'm Mina Kim. Today we're getting to hear a special live performance by the Jahari-Stampley family trio, and this is a cover of Michael Jackson's Human Nature. Just a disclaimer. This is our first time playing. So I know the... ♪

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- Jihari, sample, family, trio, and that is "Human Nature," a cover of Michael Jackson's, of course, incredible song. I love the fact, Jihari, that you were noting again that you and Offrey are playing together for the first time, which there's something about that that just feels like so intrinsically jazz, right? The improvisation, the newness. What does jazz mean to you, Jihari?

Well, I just want to start by saying, you know, this is literally the first time we've ever played with Ofri Nahimya from all the way from Israel. It's just the essence of what it means to just play free and to be with a musician that is so incredible in its own right. And it's amazing that we can communicate musically, even though we've never played before.

I just feel so grateful for the experience of music. I just can't stress enough. This is our first time playing. I'm just like, what is going on? Literally. Yeah, jazz can be that way. Sometimes you never know what to expect. You don't know who you're playing with. Sometimes not everyone can be available. So you have to try new things. And we're just excited to be here. So yeah.

When you play a song like Human Nature, a cover, right, you don't feel hemmed in at all by the structure of the song. How do you take, you know, something that has a very clear existing popular well-known structure and turn it into something that you feel like playing, something that you interpret from it? You know, I think music in itself, when you play music in a way, you're always interpreting it in the way that you feel and the way that you hear it. So

In a way, I was just kind of trying to create something that would be true to who I am as an artist. And, you know, I'm so blessed to have my mother here. And she was able to learn this song on the bass. Like I said, 13-8. And then she switched to saxophone. I don't know if you all noticed. There was a saxophonist. That's actually her playing. And so she switched to saxophone. And so in the next couple songs, she'll be on the keyboards as well. And it's just amazing that she...

is able to switch and play and I'm grateful to have her in my band and I can't believe she's my mom. Adi Urania, I wanted to ask you, you are an incredibly accomplished saxophone player. Like Jahari, is music a way that you communicate to the world who you really are? Because I heard you say in an interview once that you're shy.

Yes, I am very shy. So I think definitely music is a great way for me to connect with people. And you don't just perform it, but you also teach it. And you also have a school, like not just teach it here or there. What was the inspiration for that? Well, it's a building that used to be my mom's beauty salon, actually. And

After she passed, we turned the property into a personal training fitness facility because I used to be a personal trainer too. So I was doing personal training and then after so many years, we decided to turn it into a music school because the neighborhood where it's located, there hadn't been a music school there in over 50 years. It's in Maywood, Illinois.

And so after we converted it into a music school, I donated the property to the organization. So I'm the founder of the Jazz Desires Music School. And we teach piano, percussion, guitar, sax, any instrument. You know, I have different instructors and everything, too. And your mom didn't push you to play piano, right, Tahari?

No, I'm grateful. They didn't force me to do anything. They always wanted me to follow my own path. So I think by the time I started getting into music, I really genuinely loved music. I loved to practice every day after school. It was something I loved to do every day. It was like

the funnest thing ever, like just discovering more piano, figuring out how to play. Like I just love playing. Yeah, you came to it because you wanted to. Well, we've got a caller on the line. Choi in Pleasant Hill is listening. Hi, Choi. Join us. You're on. Oh, man. Why do I have to go around enjoying listening to you guys? Well, I just want to thank you for...

Confirming the simple fact that music is a language. And as shy as your mom is, you know, she speaks very eloquently the language of music. And that's how I let all my kids

picked up their second language music and i love that you you're following after the suzuki method the mimicking and and and to your guests you know that's how i learned making and you know the self-thought i bought my vhs and the cassette tape and all those but the music is inside and the best part is the jazz

I tinkered on the jazz and I did well and I got scared. I'm not ready for jazz. But it's the soul. It's so liberating. It's so liberating. It's very therapeutic. So family dynamics, I think this music revolution, every family has to learn musical instruments. Yeah. Troy, thank you so much. I hear the joy in your voice and the gratitude too. And you're making me think of a question actually for D-Urania in terms of

You know, as a teacher of music and as somebody who has nurtured Jahari too, he clearly sees you as a big source of inspiration. What is the key to nurturing a budding talent? Well, we, like he said, we never forced him to learn an instrument. Jahari was always around when I would have rehearsals. I've had rehearsals with a lot of the really great musicians from Chicago. We used to always come to the house and we would have rehearsals together.

um because I have two albums that I recorded also and so he always was in the background watching and listening and then all of a sudden everybody noticed Jahari started playing and he did always come home when he when he was in high school he would come home and practice every day for hours and hours and hours and that's all he did is just practice and um I

I think he was just inspired by being around a lot of musicians in the house. And we also had a recording studio. I actually am an engineer. So I did the engineering for both of my projects. And so he's been around studios, musicians. So I think it was just natural for him to pick up on a lot of stuff. Jahara, you nurture and teach musicians to mentor young artists, I understand, even when you're on tour.

Yes, we're trying to do a college tour. So if anyone listening has any recommendations, we're trying to go worldwide to college tours. We want to perform for the kids, for the youth and for everyone. Music workshops. Music workshops. Yeah. And that's a really hard thing probably to fit into a tour schedule. But why is it such a priority for you? I think we just really want to connect people.

with as many young people as possible. I think me as a young person, I loved music growing up. I was inspired, like my mom said, by the people around me, so I want to give back to the people before me, or after me rather, to continue to pass it on.

Well, listener Ron writes, all I can think of as I listen to Jahari's music is that Jahari's music is very complex and interesting. Complex chords, rhythms, melodies, impressive, all caps. And another listener writes, thank you for today's show. A welcome dose of beauty and joy. So the next song you want to play for us is called Replay. What's Replay about?

So this was on my first album. I actually wrote this song when I was like 16 years old or something like that. It's such an old song and it's really dear to my heart. And my mother actually is going to play key bass on this song. Oh my gosh. So she's going to switch it up and it's just impressive how she does this. So I'm really excited. Ofri is playing for the first time. Ofri Nahimya. So we're excited. Oh, let's hear it. Yeah. Yeah.

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Support for Forum comes from the University of San Francisco School of Management. Celebrating 100 years of partnership with the Bay Area business community, the USF School of Management connects students to the city's vibrant culture, hands-on internships, and a wealth of career opportunities. Where AI and sustainability are integrated into every facet of business education. And where we can all work together to make the world a better place.

and where students bring innovation, ethics, and entrepreneurial leadership to a planet in need. The University of San Francisco School of Management. Change the world from here. Greetings, Boomtown. The Xfinity Wi-Fi is booming! Xfinity combines the power of internet and mobile. So we've all got lightning-fast speeds at home and on the go. That's where our producers got the idea to mash our radio shows together. ♪

Welcome back to Forum. I'm Mina Kim. We're joined in studio this hour by the Jahari Stampley family trio. Stampley is an award-winning jazz pianist who's known for melding genres like funk, gospel, and rock. And she's also a member of the

And you can hear the Jahari-Stanfleet family trio at the SF Jazz Festival this weekend. They've got two performances there. And Jahari just released a new single called What a Time, which is also the title track of his second album coming out September 14th. You can also look for his new music video for the single What a Time coming out this Sunday. And listeners, share what Jahari-Stanfleet's music is making you feel, think. What questions do you have for Jahari about his music? And maybe you've performed with a parent before.

as well like he does with his mom d irania stampley and you can tell us about that too at 866-733-6786 at the email address forum at kqed.org and on all our social channels let me go to deborah who's calling in from oakland hi deborah join us

Yes, I really love this trio and Jahari's music. I saw him at Yoshi's this year and a friend invited me, but it was such a wonderful thing. I bought the CD that he was selling there. And I can't tell you the name because I use it in my car because it helps me to control my

road rage and to be more relaxed when I'm driving. But the music is wonderful. I love the energy in the piano and how dynamic it is. And I love the fact that he's with his mother. So love the music.

Oh, Deborah, thanks. Oh my gosh, thank you so much, Deborah. I'm really, really, really honored to hear that. It means a lot. What was the name of your first album again? The first album was entitled Still Listening. And this one is called What a Time. What's behind that title, Jahari? Well, a lot of the tracks are from other eras of my life, and it's a general reflection of my gratitude to

everyone, including Debra on the line, but everyone in my life. So I made a compilation of tracks just to kind of express that gratitude for my loved ones and just to the world.

Yeah, you know, in your liner notes, you describe it as an album born out of lived experience. You say the quiet stillness of late night thoughts, just so beautiful, the joyous spontaneous jam, that fire of resistance and the calm of resolution. I think resistance really jumped out at me right now because, you know, there is a lot of resistance, especially we're thinking about.

about what's going to be happening this weekend too with protests against our current government. What does resistance mean to you? What do you mean by the fire of resistance? Resistance to what? I think really like a lot of times you can be troubled by your inner thoughts and sometimes with so much happening, I think it's more so a message just to keep cherishing your loved ones and keep spreading love, keep being the best person that you can be amidst all of what is happening. So

That's kind of my understanding. We're going to hear a song next that hasn't been released yet called Rising Tide. Yeah. You want to tell us anything about this song before you play it? Yeah, thank you. In Rising Tide, this is going on my next project, which is entitled What a Time. And this song, it's kind of a reflection of just overcoming and triumphing over anything that kind of holds you down and struggles.

I think that's the inspiration behind the title. So I'm excited to play this for you. It's our first time playing this. I love it. That's what live is all about. Live on the radio in the morning. ♪♪♪

so

That was Jahari Stampley on piano, Dee Arania Stampley, his mom, on bass, and for the first time, Ofri Nehemia on drums for the Jahari Stampley family trio. And actually, I want to squeeze in two more calls. Let me see if I can go to Mike first in Point Reyes. Hi, Mike. Thanks for joining us. You're on.

Yeah, hi, Mina. I love your show, and thanks for having me. And I have to say that your interaction with Jahari and his mom brings out the joy, the same kind of joy that I felt and the whole audience felt when I saw Jahari a couple of times, including once with his mom about a year ago up on the Inverness Ridge. So keep it going, and I look forward to seeing you, Jahari, at SF Jazz this weekend. Can't wait. Aw.

Oh, man. Thank you so much.

Let me go next to caller Russ in South San Francisco. Thanks, Mike, for that. Hi, Russ. You're on. Join us. Hi, Jahari. You're amazing. I sense a lot of Gonzalo Rubicabla in your playing, kind of that, you know, jazzy, soulful, you know, with incredible chops. And it's the first time I've heard you, and I'm really psyched and excited to hear more. I was wondering if you would talk a little about your drummer, who's just absolutely killing it. He's just fantastic.

It's the first time you guys have played together. It's pretty mind-blowing. So what was his process of getting this together? Give me a little bit about his background, please. Well, Ofri is going to come over to this side. Yeah, all the mics are on the drums. Hey, first of all, thank you so much. It means a lot that you feel this way. Actually...

Mainly it was a process of trying to internalize the music and listening to it and imagining myself doing it with these guys together because I knew we're not gonna have time to rehearse together. Actually, Jahari and me met a couple times just for a quick, you know, run over things but we didn't really get much time to rehearse so...

It's actually mind-blowing for me too. I gotta be honest. I'm just having such a blast and a great time. So thanks for...

The shout out and appreciate it. Oh, Russ, thanks for that. Yeah. And another listener is writing in about what your music reminds them of. This listener writes, the breakneck piece that ended at 10.14 a.m. That was Journey to Madrid. Reminded me of the music of Conlon Noncaro. Only far surpassing his player piano and technical ability because it's performed by living, breathing musicians. Bravo.

Jahari, so when the Times wrote that piece about you winning the Herbie Hancock jazz competition, they wrote that jazz's future and actually its present looks brighter than it has in at least 50 years. What did it mean to you to win that? Well, yeah, I mean, that day was the first time I met Herbie and that was life changing for

And it was like such a mix of emotions because a good friend of mine also passed away like the day of the semifinals. And then it was like I met Herbie at the same time. And then I have all these messages like people are like, congratulations, congratulations. So I just, you know, I'm so grateful for the opportunity to play. And I think at the end of the day, I wasn't there to win or lose. I just wanted to play from my heart and just play how I would play.

That was just, that's all I'm doing. That's all I'm trying to do. Right. You've used the word play honestly, honesty as your goal. Yeah. I think that's the most important is, you know,

there's really no competition more than yourself. And you just be the best version of yourself and be as honest as you can be, you know? Well, we're going to hear one last song from you before we have to leave. It's going to, we're coming up to the end of the hour listeners. Um, and this one is something called something I would say. Yes. Okay.

*Drum roll*

*Squeaky*

*music*

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You're listening to something I would say that Jahari Stampley wrote around the time he won the Herbie Hancock competition. Thank you to the Jahari Stampley family trio. My thanks to Forum's Mark Nieto for producing this segment and Jim Bennett for engineering the performance. You are listening to Forum listeners. I'm Mina Kim. Have a great weekend.

Funds for the production of Forum are provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Generosity Foundation, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Support for Forum comes from the University of San Francisco School of Management. Celebrating 100 years of partnership with the Bay Area business community, the USF School of Management connects students to the city's vibrant culture, hands-on internships, and a wealth of career opportunities. Where AI and sustainability are integrated into every facet of business education.

and where students bring innovation, ethics, and entrepreneurial leadership to a planet in need. The University of San Francisco School of Management. Change the world from here. Support for KQED Podcasts comes from Earthjustice. As a national legal nonprofit, Earthjustice has more than 200 full-time lawyers who fight for a healthy environment.

They wield the power of the law to protect people's health, preserve magnificent places and wildlife, and advance clean energy to combat climate change. Earthjustice fights in court because the Earth needs a good lawyer. Learn more about how you can get involved and become a supporter at earthjustice.org.

Hey Forum listeners, it's Alexis. Did you hear that Forum is launching a video podcast? It is true! Each week we'll drop a video recording of a recent Forum episode on the KQED News YouTube channel. We can't wait to bring you into the studio for our conversations on Bay Area culture, California news, and beyond.

Our first few episodes are out now. Just visit youtube.com slash kqednews to see it all. That's youtube.com slash kqednews.