Bill Charlap

Bill Charlap

William Morrison "Bill" Charlap (born October 15, 1966, pronounced "Shar-Lap"[1]) is an American jazz pianist.

Early life and education

Born in New York City,[2] Bill Charlap comes from a musical background. His mother, Sandy Stewart,[3] is a singer who had a hit in 1962 with "My Coloring Book," and his father was Broadway composer Moose Charlap.[4][2] Charlap is a distant cousin to jazz pianist Dick Hyman.[5]

Charlap began playing piano at age three.[2] He later studied classical music, but he has remained most interested in jazz.

Career

Charlap and his mother recorded two duet albums, Love Is Here To Stay (2011) and "Something To Remember" (2013). Charlap has recorded seven albums as a leader or co-leader for the Blue Note Records label, including two Grammy-nominated CDs: Somewhere, featuring the music of Leonard Bernstein, and The Bill Charlap Trio, Live At The Village Vanguard. For the Japanese label Venus Records he has recorded two albums as a leader, as well as eight albums as a member of the New York Trio.

He has worked with Gerry Mulligan, Benny Carter, Tony Bennett, Phil Woods, Scott Hamilton and others. In the mid-90s, he was the musical director of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, A Celebration of Johnny Mercer, part of New York's JVC Jazz Festival.[6] In 1995 he joined the Phil Woods Quintet.[4]

Charlap appears at least twice a year for lengthy runs at some of the world's major jazz clubs, including the Village Vanguard,[7] with his rhythm section, consisting of Peter Washington (bass) and Kenny Washington (drums). In addition to appearing and recording with Peter Washington and Kenny Washington in the Bill Charlap Trio, since 2001 Charlap has also recorded as a member of the New York Trio for the Japanese label Venus Records. The other members of the New York Trio are bassist Jay Leonhart and drummer Bill Stewart.[8]

Charlap replaced Dick Hyman as Artistic Director of New York's 92nd Street Y "Jazz in July" six program series after Hyman's 20th year in 2004. He married Canadian jazz pianist Renee Rosnes in New York City on August 25, 2007.[9] The pair released an album of piano duets Double Portrait on Blue Note Records/EMI.[10]

In 2008, Charlap became part of The Blue Note 7, a septet formed that year in honor of the 70th anniversary of Blue Note Records. The group recorded an album in 2008, Mosaic, which was released in 2009 on Blue Note/EMI, and toured the United States in promotion of the album from January until April 2009.[11] The group plays the music of Blue Note Records from various artists, with arrangements by members of the band and his wife Renee Rosnes.

On November 29, 2012, Charlap was the pianist accompanying Tony Bennett at the wedding reception of Liz Lemon on NBC's 30 Rock.

In September 2015, Charlap became the new Director of Jazz Studies at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey.[2]

Discography

As a leader or co-leader

As a sideman

Harry Allen

Ruby Braff

Johnny Frigo

The Jon Gordon Quartet

Scott Hamilton

Jay Leonhart

Brian Lynch

Gerry Mulligan

Sean Smith Quartet

Grant Stewart

Warren Vaché

Phil Woods

As member of The Blue Note 7

As member of The New York Trio

References

  1. ↑ Beckerman, Jim. "Jazzman Bill Charlap takes over as Director of Jazz Studies at William Paterson", The Record (Bergen County), August 26, 2015. Accessed October 19, 2015. "'When you’re playing solo piano, you’re something like an orchestra,' says Charlap (pronounced 'Shar-lap'), a West Orange resident."
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Bill Charlap Named Director of Jazz Studies at William Paterson University, Continuing a Legacy of Excellence Dating to Program's Founding in 1973". WPUNJ.edu. William Paterson University. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  3. ↑ "My Coloring Book". YouTube. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  4. 1 2 Adler, David. "Bill Charlap: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  5. ↑ Bill Charlap biography at Managram Music Archived March 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ "Bill Charlap @ All About Jazz". Allaboutjazz.com. Archived from the original on 2012-07-16. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  7. ↑ "Bill Charlap Trio: Live At The Village Vanguard". NPR. 2008-10-08. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  8. ↑ "New York Trio: Thou Swell & Always". Allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  9. ↑ Charlap, Bill. "Bill Charlap, Renee Rosnes Duet In 'Double Portrait'". NPR. Retrieved 2013-10-14.
  10. ↑ "Bill Charlap & Renee Rosnes Announce Tour Dates; Reveal Cover Artwork for 'Double Portrait'". Blue Note Records. 5 May 2010. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  11. ↑ "The Blue Note 7 Celebrates 70 Years of Blue Note Records With Album Release and 50+ City North American Tour". Allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved 2013-10-14.

External links

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