Bill Charlap
{{Short description|American jazz pianist (born 1966)}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bill Charlap
| image = Bill Charlap Trio @ Dimitriou's Jazz Alley (8121370837).jpg
| birth_name = William Morrison Charlap
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1966|10|15}}
| birth_place = New York City, New York, U.S.
| genre = Jazz
| occupation = Musician
| instrument = Piano
| years_active = 1989–present
| label = Chiaroscuro, Criss Cross, Blue Note, Double-Time, Venus, Impulse!
| associated_acts = Gerry Mulligan, Phil Woods, Peter Washington, Kenny Washington
| website = {{URL|www.billcharlap.com}}
}}
William Morrison Charlap (born October 15, 1966, pronounced "Shar-Lap"{{cite web |last=Beckerman |first=Jim |date=August 26, 2015 |title=Jazzman Bill Charlap takes over as Director of Jazz Studies at William Paterson |url=http://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/celebrities/jazzman-bill-charlap-takes-over-as-director-of-jazz-studies-at-william-paterson-video-1.1398288?page=all |website=northjersey.com |access-date=October 19, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151101055821/http://www.northjersey.com/arts-and-entertainment/celebrities/jazzman-bill-charlap-takes-over-as-director-of-jazz-studies-at-william-paterson-video-1.1398288?page=all |archive-date=November 1, 2015}}) is an American jazz pianist and educator.
Early life and education
Born in New York City, Bill Charlap is the son of American Broadway composer Moose Charlap and the singer Sandy Stewart. Stewart was a regular on Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall television series and had a hit recording in 1962 with "My Coloring Book".{{cite web|last1=Adler|first1=David R.|title=Bill Charlap|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bill-charlap-mn0000763670/biography|website=AllMusic|accessdate=1 December 2017|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201131704/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bill-charlap-mn0000763670/biography|url-status=live}} Charlap is a distant cousin of the jazz pianist Dick Hyman.{{cite web| url= http://managramusic.com/artists/billcharlap/bio.html |title= Bill Charlap biography| publisher= Managram Music |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20110325160320/http://managramusic.com/artists/billcharlap/bio.html |archivedate=March 25, 2011 }}
Charlap began playing piano at the age of three. He studied classical music in addition to jazz.
Career
Early in Charlap's career, he was a member of Gerry Mulligan's band, first recording with it in 1989. He has also worked with Benny Carter, Tony Bennett, Phil Woods, Scott Hamilton, Ron Carter, and others. In 1993, he released his first album under his own name, Along With Me. In the mid-1990s, 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.{{cite web |url= http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=5644 |title=Bill Charlap |website= All About Jazz |accessdate=October 14, 2013 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716130301/http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=5644 |archivedate=July 16, 2012 }} In 1995, he joined the Phil Woods Quintet.
In 1997, Charlap first recorded with a trio that included the unrelated musicians Peter Washington (double bass) and Kenny Washington (drums). This trio continued to record and perform live through the 2020s. In addition to the instrumental jazz recordings that he has released, Charlap has frequently recorded with singers. He recorded Love Is Here to Stay (2004) and Something to Remember (2012) with his mother, Sandy Stewart. In 2016, The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, an album featuring Charlap and Tony Bennett, won the award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. As a backing musician, he has recorded with Carol Sloane, Freddie Cole, Barbra Streisand, Diana Krall, and others.
Charlap appears at least twice a year for engagements at jazz clubs, including the Village Vanguard.{{cite web |author= |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95409237 |title=Bill Charlap Trio: Live At The Village Vanguard |website=NPR |date=October 8, 2008 |accessdate=October 14, 2013 |archive-date=May 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505002807/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95409237 |url-status=live }} Since 2001, he has recorded as a member of the studio group New York Trio for the Japanese label Venus Records with bassist Jay Leonhart and drummer Bill Stewart.{{cite web|url=http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=31290|title=New York Trio: Thou Swell & Always|website=All About Jazz|author=Fred Bouchard|date=December 7, 2008|accessdate=October 14, 2013|archive-date=June 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625051456/http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=31290|url-status=live}}
Charlap succeeded Dick Hyman as artistic director of New York City's 92nd Street Y Jazz in July six-program series after Hyman's 20th year in 2004. He and his wife, Canadian jazz pianist Renee Rosnes, released an album of piano duets Double Portrait on Blue Note Records/EMI.{{cite web| url= http://www.bluenote.com/MainNewsDetail.aspx?newsId=13712&promoId=690 | title= Bill Charlap & Renee Rosnes Announce Tour Dates; Reveal Cover Artwork for 'Double Portrait' | date=May 5, 2010| publisher= Blue Note Records | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20120317173655/http://www.bluenote.com/MainNewsDetail.aspx?newsId=13712&promoId=690| archivedate=March 17, 2012| accessdate=August 10, 2015}}
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 to April 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=23494|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717083306/http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/news.php?id=23494|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 17, 2012|title=The Blue Note 7 Celebrates 70 Years of Blue Note Records With Album Release and 50+ City North American Tour| website= All About Jazz|date=September 25, 2008|accessdate=October 14, 2013}} The group plays the music of Blue Note Records from various artists, with arrangements by members of the band and his wife Renee Rosnes.
In September 2015, Charlap became the Director of Jazz Studies at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey.{{cite web | url= http://www.wpunj.edu/news/detail.dot?id=0e6c96ba-0fd2-4c21-ab93-8dc20219a972 | title= Bill Charlap Named Director of Jazz Studies at William Paterson University, Continuing a Legacy of Excellence Dating to Program's Founding in 1973 | publisher= William Paterson University | date= June 30, 2015 | access-date= November 18, 2016 | archive-date= October 4, 2015 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151004122711/http://www.wpunj.edu/news/detail.dot?id=0e6c96ba-0fd2-4c21-ab93-8dc20219a972 | url-status= live }}
Personal life
He married the Canadian jazz pianist Renee Rosnes in New York City on August 25, 2007.{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128065225 |title=Bill Charlap, Renee Rosnes Duet In 'Double Portrait' |website=NPR |date=June 25, 2010 |accessdate=October 14, 2013 |archive-date=August 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827210516/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128065225 |url-status=live }} He has two daughters from a previous marriage and one stepson from Rosnes’ previous marriage to Billy Drummond.
Discography
= As leader or co-leader =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year recorded
!Title !Label !Year released !Notes |
|---|
| 1991–1993
|Along with Me |1994 |Trio, with Sean Smith & Andy Eulau (bass; separately), Ron Vincent (drums) |
| 1993
|Bill Charlap & Sean Smith |1993 |Co-leader duo, with Sean Smith (bass) |
| 1993
|Piano & Bass |Progressive |1994 |Co-leader duo, with Sean Smith (bass) |
| 1995
|Michael Moore/Bill Charlap |1995 |Co-leader duo, with Michael Moore (bass) |
| 1995
|Souvenir |1995 |Trio, with Scott Colley (bass), Dennis Mackrel (drums) |
| 1996
|The Gerry Mulligan Songbook |1997 |A posthumous tribute to Gerry Mulligan (saxophone), with former members Ted Rosenthal (piano), Dean Johnson (bass), Ron Vincent (drums) |
| 1996
|Distant Star |Criss Cross Jazz |1997 |Trio, with Sean Smith (bass), Bill Stewart (drums) |
| 1997
|All Through the Night |Criss Cross Jazz |1998 |Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums) |
| 1998
| 'S Wonderful |1999 |Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums) |
| 2000
|Written in the Stars |2000 |Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums) |
| 2000
|Contrasts |Double-Time |2001 |Co-leader, duo with Jon Gordon (alto sax) |
| 2000
|2001 |Co-leader, with Warren Vaché (cornet, flugelhorn) |
| 2001
|Artfully |Urban Beauty |2001 |The European Jazz Piano Trio (Mark Hodgson bass), Stephen Keogh (drums)) |
| 2001
|Blues in the Night |Venus |2001 |New York Trio (Jay Leonhart (bass), Bill Stewart (drums)) |
| 2001
|Stardust |Blue Note |2003 |Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums), |
| 2002
|The Things We Did Last Summer |Venus |2002 |New York Trio (Jay Leonhart (bass), Bill Stewart (drums)) |
| 2003
|Somewhere: The Songs of Leonard Bernstein |Blue Note |2004 |Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums) |
| 2003
|Love You Madly |Venus |2003 |New York Trio (Jay Leonhart (bass), Bill Stewart (drums)) |
| 2003
|Live at the Village Vanguard |Blue Note |2007 |Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums); in concert |
| 2004
|2006 |Co-leader, duo with Houston Person (tenor sax) |
| 2004
|Love is Here to Stay |Blue Note |2005 |Co-leader, with Sandy Stewart (vocals) |
| 2004
|Stairway to the Stars |Venus |2005 |New York Trio (Jay Leonhart (bass), Bill Stewart (drums)) |
| 2005
|Plays George Gershwin: The American Soul |Blue Note |2005 |Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums), |
| 2005
|Begin the Beguine |Venus |2006 |New York Trio (Jay Leonhart (bass), Bill Stewart (drums)) |
| 2006
|Thou Swell |Venus |2007 |New York Trio (Jay Leonhart (bass), Bill Stewart (drums)) |
| 2007
|Always |Venus |2008 |New York Trio (Jay Leonhart (bass), Bill Stewart (drums)) |
| 2008
|Stardust |Venus |2008 |New York Trio (Jay Leonhart (bass), Bill Stewart (drums)) with Ken Peplowski |
| 2009
|I'm Old Fashioned |Venus |2010 |with Peter Bernstein (guitar), Peter Washington (bass) |
| 2009
|Double Portrait |Blue Note |2010 |Co-leader piano duet, with Renee Rosnes (piano) |
| 2011
|Something to Remember |Ghostlight |2012 |Co-leader, with Sandy Stewart (vocals) |
| 2015?
|The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern |2015 |Co-leader, with Tony Bennett (vocals) |
| 2015
|Notes from New York |2016 |Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums) |
| 2017
|Uptown, Downtown |2017 |Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums) |
| 2021
|Street of Dreams |Blue Note{{cite web |title=Bill Charlap Trio – Street of Dreams |url=https://store.bluenote.com/products/bill-charlap-trio-street-of-dreams |website=Blue Note Records |access-date=2022-01-07 |archive-date=2022-01-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107214859/https://store.bluenote.com/products/bill-charlap-trio-street-of-dreams |url-status=live }} |2021 |Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums) |
| 2023
|And Then Again |Blue Note |2024 |Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums) |
| 2025?
|Elemental |Mack Avenue Records{{cite web |title=Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap / Elemental |url=https://mackavenue.com/products/dee-dee-bridgewater-and-bill-charlap-elemental?srsltid=AfmBOoqQavgH4L3FM2VhSPKRRjxMNt4Nv_XPOzR8JyRaOBKw4DOJ1wcI |website=Mack Avenue Records |access-date=June 2, 2025}} |2025 |Co-leader, with Dee Dee Bridgewater (vocals) |
= As a member =
- Mosaic: A Celebration of Blue Note Records (Blue Note, 2009) – recorded in 2008
Other Blue Note appearances
- Bill Charlap, Elvis Costello, Hank Jones, Joe Lovano, Dianne Reeves, Billy Strayhorn: Lush Life (Blue Note, 2007) – compositions of Billy Strayhorn
= As sideman =
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
With Harry Allen
- Harry Allen Plays Ellington Songs with the Bill Charlap Trio (RCA Victor, 2000) – recorded in 1999
- Blues for Pres and Teddy (Swingbros, 2011)
With Carol Sloane
- When I Look in Your Eyes (Concord Jazz, 1994)
- The Songs Carmen Sang (Concord Jazz, 1995, Phil Woods plays on 7 tracks)
- The Songs Sinatra Sang (Concord Jazz, 1996, with Frank Wess)
- The Songs Ella & Louis Sang (Concord Jazz, 1997, with Clark Terry)
With Phil Woods
- 1996: Mile High Jazz: Live in Denver (Concord Jazz, 1996)
- 1996: Astor & Elis (Chesky Records, 1996)
- 1997: Chasin' the Bird (Venus, 1998)
- 2000: Voyage with the Bill Charlap Trio at the Floating Jazz Festival Aboard the QE2 (Chiaroscuro, 2001)
- 2002: The Thrill is Gone with strings (Venus, 2003)
- 2002: The Great American Songbook, Volumes 1 & 2 (Kind of Blue, 2006)
{{col-2}}
With others
- Ronnie Bedford, Just Friends (Progressive Records, recorded live 1993, released 2002)
- Tony Bennett & Diana Krall, Love Is Here to Stay (Verve/Columbia, 2018)
- Gene Bertoncini, Gene Bertoncini with Bill Charlap and Sean Smith (Chiaroscuro, 1998)
- Ruby Braff, You Brought a New Kind of Love (Arbors, 2004)
- Ann Hampton Callaway, Easy Living (Sin-Drome Records, 1999; Charlap plays on 5 tracks)
- Freddy Cole, Music Maestro Please (HighNote Records, 2007)
- Johnny Frigo, Johnny Frigo's DNA Exposed! (Arbors, 2001)
- With Jon Gordon, Spark (Chiaroscuro, 1995)
- Scott Hamilton, Back to New York (Concord Jazz, 2005)
- Jay Leonhart, Great Duets (Chiaroscuro, 1999)
- Brian Lynch, Brian Lynch Meets Bill Charlap (Sharp Nine, 2003)
- Gerry Mulligan, Lonesome Boulevard (Verve, 1990)
- the Joe Roccisano Orchestra, Leave Your Mind Behind (Landmark, 1995)
- Randy Sandke, Trumpet After Dark (Evening Star, 2005)
- Sean Smith, LIVE! (Chiaroscuro, 1999)
- Marvin Stamm, Mystery Man (MusicMasters, 1993)
- Steely Dan, Everything Must Go (Reprise, 2003; Charlap plays Fender Rhodes on one track and acoustic piano on another)
- Grant Stewart, Grant Stewart + 4 (VideoArts, 2005) – recorded in 2004
- Barbra Streisand, Love Is the Answer (album) (Columbia, 2009; Charlap plays only on a bonus track: "You Must Believe in Spring")
- Warren Vaché, Dream Dancing (Arbors, 2004) – recorded in 2003
{{col-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20120716130301/http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=5644 Biography] at All About Jazz
- [https://billcharlap.com Official Website]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Charlap, Bill}}
Category:American jazz pianists
Category:Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School alumni
Category:Jazz musicians from New York City
Category:State University of New York at Purchase alumni
Category:Blue Note Records artists
Category:Impulse! Records artists
Category:20th-century American pianists
Category:American male jazz pianists
Category:21st-century American pianists
Category:20th-century American male musicians
Category:21st-century American male musicians
Category:American people of Jewish descent
Category:The Blue Note 7 members
Category:Nagel-Heyer Records artists
Category:Venus Records artists
Category:Double-Time Records artists