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.