James Westfall
Encyclopedia
James Westfall is a jazz vibraphonist and keytarist born in Houston, Texas
.
He began on violin at age 6 before moving to piano and then percussion. He became interested in vibraphone
due in part to his grandfather. (Who learned the instrument during the great depression.) He later moved to New Orleans where he attended the University of New Orleans
. In New Orleans he studied under Terence Blanchard
, Ed Petersen, Steve Masakowski and Brian Seeger. Later he moved to Los Angeles, California
where he was part of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz
. At present he lives in New Orleans.
Westfall heads the The Wee Trio and Bionica and heads the record label Bionic Records.
The name James Westfall also appears in the movie Anchorman when Paul Rudd's character mentions he nicknames his left testicle James Westfall and his right Dr. Kenneth Noisewater.
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
.
He began on violin at age 6 before moving to piano and then percussion. He became interested in vibraphone
Vibraphone
The vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a musical instrument in the struck idiophone subfamily of the percussion family....
due in part to his grandfather. (Who learned the instrument during the great depression.) He later moved to New Orleans where he attended the University of New Orleans
University of New Orleans
The University of New Orleans, often referred to locally as UNO, is a medium-sized public urban university located on the New Orleans Lakefront within New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. It is a member of the LSU System and the Urban 13 association. Currently UNO is without a proper chancellor...
. In New Orleans he studied under Terence Blanchard
Terence Blanchard
Terence Oliver Blanchard is an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, arranger, and film score composer. Since he emerged on the scene in 1980 with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra and then shortly thereafter with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Blanchard has been a leading artist in jazz...
, Ed Petersen, Steve Masakowski and Brian Seeger. Later he moved to Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
where he was part of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz
Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz
The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz is a non-profit music education-oriented organization co-founded in 1986 by the family of the late American jazz musician Thelonious Monk, opera singer Maria Fisher and Thomas R...
. At present he lives in New Orleans.
Westfall heads the The Wee Trio and Bionica and heads the record label Bionic Records.
The name James Westfall also appears in the movie Anchorman when Paul Rudd's character mentions he nicknames his left testicle James Westfall and his right Dr. Kenneth Noisewater.
Selected discography
- Bionica, Take Your City (2010) Bionic Records
- The Wee Trio, Capitol Diner Vol. 2 (2010) Bionic Records
- The Wee Trio, Capitol Diner Vol. 1 (2008) Bionic Records
- James Westfall, Independent (2006) Bionic Records
- James Westfall, & The Jazz Blasters (2003) Bionic Records