Music Travel Guide

British pianist, composer and educator Joe Webb joins me for an honest conversation about what it actually takes to become the musician you want to be.

Joe Webb is a highly regarded pianist, jazz musician, and London-based composer, originally from Wales. He has emerged as a leading force on the U.K jazz scene today, captivating audiences with his exceptional talent and rockstar-like persona.

We talk about Joe’s early connection with jazz and piano, the key moments that shaped his path, and how he’s grown into one of the most distinctive voices on today’s scene.

But more importantly, explore the less visible side of the journey - the importance of building the right support system, surrounding yourself with people who believe in you, and developing the skills that aren’t taught at the piano. 

We also dive into Joe’s latest album Neath Beat, and the sonic world behind it - what it represents creatively and personally at this stage in his career.

At the heart of this conversation is a simple but powerful idea: who you become along the way matters more than the outcome.

If you’re a musician trying to build something meaningful, there’s a lot in here for you!

Table of contents:

0:00 Intro
02:07 Early Connection to Jazz & Piano
06:42 Jazz Today: More Than Music
08:30 Finding Freedom in Jazz
13:00 The Power of the Right People
17:07 Why Your Local Scene Matters
19:37 Building Meaningful Relationships
24:50 Embracing Who You Are
30:10 Do You Need to Move to a Bigger City?
36:07 ‘Neath the Beat’: The Sonic World
43:48 Advice for Musicians: Stay Honest

As you listened, what reflection stayed with you the most?

Let's talk about today's episode:
 
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In this episode, I’m joined by Grammy-winning keyboardist, composer, producer, and arranger Jason Miles - an artist whose legacy spans decades of music-making across jazz, R&B, and beyond, and whose work has helped define the sound and direction of multiple musical eras, working alongside some of the most influential voices in modern music like Miles Davis, Luther Vandross, Grover Washington Jr., David Sanborn and Marcus Miller, to name a few.

No less than Roberta Flack said about him, “Jason Miles has raised the level of excellence for the musicians who have had the good fortune of working with him, myself included. He has enriched the lives of millions of people.” And Miles Davis, in his 1991 autobiography, labelled Jason a genius - not a term he threw around!

Jason and I met here in Lisbon, and what started as a conversation became a very honest and enriching exchange for me. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to sit down with him.

This podcast explores the journey behind the music - the decisions, mindset, and lessons that shape a sustainable creative life, especially in today’s DIY landscape. We begin our interview by talking about what Luther Vandross understood about music that most musicians never quite grasp.

From there, Jason shares the biggest lessons he’s learned across his outstanding career — we explore creative decision-making, trust on the business side of music, and his perspective on today’s jazz landscape compared to the past, as well as Jason's 2026 musical projects.

This conversation is about practises that still guide artists today. If you’re an independent musician looking for clarity and perspective, I am sure you’ll find a lot of inspiration in hearing Jason's stories, reflections and guiding principles.

Jason Miles - Links:

Website

The Extraordinary Journey of Jason Miles

Bandcamp

Table of contents:

00:00 Intro
03:29 Luther Vandross's integrity & intention
14:26 Advice for DIY artists: listen & learn
21:16 Why decision-making matters
22:19 Trust in the business side of music
23:11 Dealing with rejection
26:11 Today’s jazz landscape
28:27 Jason Miles’ 2026 projects

As you listened, what reflection stayed with you the most?

Let's talk about today's episode:
 
👉🏻 Let's connect on Instagram
 
👉🏻 Drop me a note at hello@musictravelguide.net

Are you planning to release music in 2026?

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In this final episode of the year, I’m sharing a short snippet from a live Q&A session inside the Music Travel Guide Club Membership, featuring creative producer and coach Lucy Woolley.

Lucy's expertise spans project planning, network building, and professional development, helping independent artists navigate the complexities of the music industry.

In this extract, Lucy breaks down why knowing your career goals is crucial and how thinking over opportunities through that clarity can help you make more intentional decisions in the music industry.

She also walks you through a real case study of a British artist, showing how consistent exchanges led to a long-term professional collaboration. This extract is definitely an important reminder that sustainable music careers are built through intention and trust over time.

Hope you'll find it helpful!

Table of contents:

0:00 Intro
2:03 Why clarity around your career goals is essential
9:04 Building Relationships After a “No”
12:34 Case Study: Incremental Relationship Building

If this conversation resonated with you, this is just a glimpse of what happens inside our Club Membership Community. 

It’s an online space where independent artists and musicians connect, exchange ideas, and get inspired through live conversations and events with music experts like Lucy. 

To learn more and explore the community, click 👉🏻 HERE.

Let's talk about today's episode:
 
👉🏻 Let's connect on Instagram
 
👉🏻 Drop me a note at hello@musictravelguide.net

Today’s episode is one I’m really excited to share!

I had the chance to meet saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Immanuel Wilkins in my hometown, Mantova (Italy), during the 45th edition of Mantova Jazz - one of Europe’s most historic and respected jazz festivals.

Immanuel is one of the most distinctive voices in today’s jazz scene, not only for his sound, but for how deeply he reflects on what it means to create.

In our conversation, we dive into the heart of the creative process: the tension between concept and creation, and what it means to trust your ideas before the music exists.

Immanuel shares how his album The 7th Hand began as a pure concept, and how he learned to move from theory into sound, from uncertainty into faith.

Whether you’re an independent artist, composer, or musician walking your own creative path, this conversation is an invitation to reflect on how you relate to your ideas, and how to keep trusting your process, even when you’re not sure if it works.

Hope you'll enjoy Immanuel's reflections as much as I did!

Table of contents:

03:49 Finding the balance between concept and intuition

09:07 When the idea takes the lead over the practice

11:42 Creating music in service of something bigger

Take this 3-minute quiz to find out how prepared you are to promote your music, plus a clear action plan to improve it. 

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Let's talk about today's episode:
 
👉🏻 Let's connect on Instagram
 
👉🏻 Drop me a note at hello@musictravelguide.net

Your best strategy will always be your clarity of desire. 

When you know exactly what you want and why you want it. 

I believe that kind of clarity will do more for you than any technique in the world. 

Now…the question is: how do you, as a musician, achieve that kind of clarity in your music career?

To help you explore that, I’m very excited to welcome Dave Stapleton.

Dave is a British composer, pianist, producer, and the founder of Edition Records. Since launching the label in 2008, he’s grown it into one of Europe’s most respected independent record labels, home to a lineup of internationally acclaimed artists redefining contemporary jazz.

Dave’s musical journey—from his early quintet recordings to the work with Slowly Rolling Camera—reflects the evolution of Edition itself: a label that started small and now provides a global platform for boundary-pushing artists. 

In this episode, Dave opens up about why having a clear artistic vision is essential for DIY musicians and independent artists.

We dive into how to define your career direction, the questions that help you decide your next move, and practical, proven strategies for building meaningful, lasting connections in the music industry. 

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to sharpen your path as an artist, this conversation will give you the clarity, guidance, and confidence to take your next steps with purpose.

Make sure to listen to Dave's insights all the way through! 🎧

Table of contents:

2:48 Creating Edition Records

13:28 Your first step to clarifying your career direction

19:26 Getting honest and clear about why you make music

30:37 2 key questions to sharpen your focus moving forward

38:10 Networking that actually gets responses from industry pros

46:03 Building meaningful artist-fan connections in today’s music industry

Ready to Promote Your Next Release?

Take this 3-minute quiz to find out how prepared you are to promote your music, plus a clear action plan to improve it. 

👉🏻 TAKE THE QUIZ NOW

Let's talk about today's episode:
 
👉🏻 Let's connect on Instagram
 
👉🏻 Drop me a note at hello@musictravelguide.net