Biography
Bill Charlap is one of the strongest mainstream jazz pianists on the scene and one of the most gifted interpreters of standards. He grew up in a musical household, as the son of Broadway songwriter Moose Charlap and singer Sandy Stewart. Taking to the piano at a young age, he went on to study at New York’s High School of Performing Arts. He then entered college, but rather than finishing, opted to practice and gig on his own. Pianist Bill Mays soon took up Charlap’s cause, recommending the young man as his replacement in the Gerry Mulligan Quartet. During this time, Charlap also worked with Benny Carter, Clark Terry, and Frank Wess, and was sought after as an accompanist for singers such as Tony Bennett, Carol Sloane, and Sheila Jordan. In 1995, he secured one of the most coveted piano chairs in jazz, with the Phil Woods Quintet.
All the while, Charlap showed steady development as a leader. His debut came in 1994 with Along with Me, followed by Souvenir in 1995 and Distant Star in 1996. His 1997 release, All Through the Night, was the first to feature his current trio, with the redoubtable (and unrelated) Washingtons, Peter and Kenny, on bass and drums respectively. In 2000, this lineup had its major-label breakthrough with the highly acclaimed Blue Note album Written in the Stars followed by2002’s Stardust, which featured the music of Hoagy Carmichael, 2004’s Somewhere was an all-Leonard Bernstein affair, while 2005’s Plays George Gershwin featured ten songs by the man Charlap considers “the American soul.” 2005 saw the release of an album with Sandy Stewart, Love Is Here to Stay. Two years later, Charlap released Live at the Village Vanguard. After co-leading an album with vocalist Tony Bennett and release a pair of Impulse albums, Charlap returned to Blue Note with the 2021 release of Street of Dreams.
Releases
And Then Again - Bill Charlap
Street Of Dreams - Bill Charlap
Double Portrait - Bill Charlap - Renee Rosnes
Mosaic: A Celebration Of Blue Note Records - The Blue Note 7
Live at the Village Vanguard - Bill Charlap
Love Is Here to Stay - Bill Charlap
Plays George Gershwin: The American Soul - Bill Charlap
Somewhere: The Songs Of Leonard Bernstein - Bill Charlap
Stardust: The Music Of Hoagy Carmichael - Bill Charlap
Written In The Stars - Bill Charlap
Videos
Bill Charlap “First Look” With Don Was
Bill Charlap Trio “You’re All The World To Me”
Bill Charlap Trio “Day Dream”
Bill Charlap Trio “Street of Dreams”
Bill Charlap Trio “Out Of Nowhere”
Bill Charlap “First Look” with Don Was
SPOTLIGHT
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BILL CHARLAP TRIO “AND THEN AGAIN”
By Evan Haga After 27 years and nearly 20 albums, it still bears repeating that Bill Charlap is one of the great jazz piano players, and that his trio with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington is one of the great working jazz groups of our day. But what does that mean, and why does it need reiterating? It means everything that can be heard on the Bill Charlap Trio’s new... read more
BILL CHARLAP TRIO’S “STREET OF DREAMS”
Pianist Bill Charlap makes his much-anticipated return to Blue Note Records after more than a decade with Street of Dreams, a stunning new album featuring his revered longstanding trio with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington. Named for the 1930s standard penned by Victor Young and Samuel M. Lewis, Street of Dreams is a celebration of New York City as it emerges from an... read more
News
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BILL CHARLAP RELEASES NEW SINGLE “(I DON’T STAND) A GHOST OF A CHANCE (WITH YOU)”
The Bill Charlap Trio has released “(I Don’t Stand) A Ghost Of A Chance (With You),” a gorgeous new single from their forthcoming album And Then Again out Aug. 16, a stellar live recording that captures one of the great working jazz groups of our time on a particularly inspired Saturday night at the Village... read more
BILL CHARLAP TRIO TO RELEASE LIVE VILLAGE VANGUARD ALBUM “AND THEN AGAIN”
Blue Note Records announces the Aug. 16 release of And Then Again by the Bill Charlap Trio, a stellar live recording that captures one of the great working jazz groups of our time on a particularly inspired Saturday night at the Village Vanguard in New York City. Featuring pianist Bill Charlap with his longtime trio... read more
PIANIST BILL CHARLAP RELEASES NEW SINGLE “I’LL KNOW” FROM HIS TRIO ALBUM “STREET OF DREAMS” OUT NOV. 12
Pianist Bill Charlap returns to Blue Note Records with Street of Dreams, a sublime new album featuring his revered trio with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington. Charlap has revealed another new track from the album with today’s release of the trio’s stunning ballad performance of “I’ll... read more
BILL CHARLAP RETURNS TO BLUE NOTE WITH “STREET OF DREAMS”; NEW TRIO ALBUM OUT NOV. 12
GRAMMY Award winning pianist Bill Charlap returns to Blue Note Records with Street of Dreams, a sublime new album featuring his revered longstanding trio with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington. Street of Dreams is a delightful mix of Great American Songbook favorites and songs by great jazz... read more
