Upswing: Taylor Eigsti

Bay Area native Taylor Eigsti has built a career on superlatives. A virtuoso pianist who began his journey at age four, he released his debut album at 14 and began teaching at Stanford Jazz Workshop the following year. Now a two-time GRAMMY winner and four-time nominee, Eigsti has built a remarkable resume of the music’s greatest names, including Joshua Redman, Dave Brubeck, Lisa Fischer, Terence Blanchard, Julian Lage, Ambrose Akinmusire, Eric Harland, and Gretchen Parlato.

Over 50 recording credits and 9 albums as a leader over 25 years have established him as among the most gifted pianists and composers in jazz. His most recent album, Plot Armor, is a 2025 GRAMMY winner.