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Bill Charlap

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Bill Charlap
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Morrison Charlap
Born (1966-10-15) October 15, 1966 (age 58)
New York City, New York, U.S.
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentPiano
Years active1989–present
LabelsChiaroscuro, Criss Cross, Blue Note, Double-Time, Venus, Impulse!, Blue Note Records
Websitewww.billcharlap.com

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

Early life and education

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Born in New York City,[2] 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".[2][3] Charlap is a distant cousin of the jazz pianist Dick Hyman.[4]

Charlap began playing piano at the age of three.[2] He studied classical music in addition to jazz.

Career

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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.[5] In 1995, he joined the Phil Woods Quintet.[3]

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. Charlap has been nominated for multiple instrumental Grammy Awards. Somewhere was nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Album at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards. Live At The Village Vanguard was nominated in the same category at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, and Uptown, Downtown at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.[6]

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.[7] 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.[8]

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 remained director through 2023.[9] He and his wife, Canadian jazz pianist Renee Rosnes, 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 to 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.

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

Personal life

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He married the Canadian jazz pianist Renee Rosnes in New York City on August 25, 2007.[12] He has two daughters from a previous marriage and one stepson from Rosnes’ previous marriage to Billy Drummond.

Discography

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As leader or co-leader

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Year recorded Title Label Year released Notes
1991–1993 Along with Me Chiaroscuro 1994 Trio, with Sean Smith & Andy Eulau (bass; separately), Ron Vincent (drums)
1993 Bill Charlap & Sean Smith Progressive 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 Concord Jazz 1995 Co-leader duo, with Michael Moore (bass)
1995 Souvenir Criss Cross Jazz 1995 Trio, with Scott Colley (bass), Dennis Mackrel (drums)
1996 The Gerry Mulligan Songbook Chiaroscuro 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 Venus 1999 Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums)
2000 Gift Ashbrown Productions 2000 Quartet, with Mark Hodgson (bass), Stephen Keogh (drums), Louis Stewart (guitar)
2000 Written in the Stars Blue Note 2000 Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums)
2000 Contrasts Double-Time 2001 Co-leader, duo with Jon Gordon (alto sax)
2000 Stairway to the Stars Blau Records 2022 Quartet, with Mark Hodgson (bass), Stephen Keogh (drums), Louis Stewart (guitar)
2000 2gether Nagel-Heyer 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),
plus guests Tony Bennett (vocals), Frank Wess (tenor sax), Jim Hall (guitar), Shirley Horn (vocals)
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 You Taught My Heart to Sing HighNote 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),
plus guests Nicholas Payton (trumpet), Slide Hampton (trombone), Phil Woods (alto sax), Frank Wess (tenor sax)
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 Artfully Vol. 2 Blau Records 2016 The European Jazz Piano Trio (Mark Hodgson bass), Stephen Keogh (drums))
2011 Something to Remember Ghostlight 2012 Co-leader, with Sandy Stewart (vocals)
2015? The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern Columbia 2015 Co-leader, with Tony Bennett (vocals)
with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums)
2015 Notes from New York Impulse! 2016 Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums)
2017 Uptown, Downtown Impulse![13] 2017 Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums)
2021 Street of Dreams Blue Note[14] 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[15] 2025 Co-leader, with Dee Dee Bridgewater (vocals)

As a member

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The Blue Note 7

Other Blue Note appearances

As sideman

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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 Ronnie Bedford

  • Tour de West: Where the Beboppers Roam (Ronnie Bedford, 1998)
  • Just Friends (Progressive Records, recorded live 1993, released 2002)

With Keter Betts

  • Bass Buddies & Blues (Keter Betts Music, 1999)
  • Bass, Buddies, Blues & Beauty Too (Keter Betts Music, 1999)
  • Pinky's Waltz: Keter Betts, Live At Montpelier! (Jazzmont, 2002)

With Ruby Braff

  • You Brought a New Kind of Love (Arbors, 2004)
  • Variety is the Spice of Braff (Arbors, 2002; Charlap plays piano on 6 tracks)

With Jon Gordon

  • Ask Me Now (Criss Cross Jazz, 1994)
  • Spark (Chiaroscuro, 1995)
  • Witness (Criss Cross Jazz, 1996)
  • Evolution (ArtistShare, 2009)

With Conrad Herwig

  • Heart of Darkness (Criss Cross, 1998)
  • Hieroglyphica (Criss Cross Jazz, 2001)

With Jay Leonhart

  • With His Friends (Live At Fat Tuesday's May 13-15, 1993) (DRG Records, 1993)
  • Great Duets (Chiaroscuro, 1999)

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 Sean Smith

  • LIVE! (Chiaroscuro, 1999)
  • Poise (Ambient Records, 2001)

With Byron Stripling

  • Stripling Now! (Nagel–Heyer Records, 1999) – recorded 1998
  • Byron, Get One Free... (Nagel–Heyer, 2001)

With Phil Woods

  • 1996: Mile High Jazz: Live in Denver (Concord Jazz, 1996)
  • 1996: Astor & Elis (Chesky Records, 1996)
  • 1996: Live 1996 (Revelation, 1998)
  • 1997: Chasin' the Bird (Venus, 1998)
  • 1997: Celebration (Concord Jazz, 1997))
  • 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)
  • 2004: This is How I Feel About Quincy (Jazzed Media, 2004)
  • 2008: Ballads & Blues (Venus Records, 2009)

With others

  • Tony Bennett & Diana Krall, Love Is Here to Stay (Verve/Columbia, 2018)
  • Tony Bennett, Duets: An American Classic (Columbia, 2006; Charlap plays piano on one track)
  • Gene Bertoncini, Gene Bertoncini with Bill Charlap and Sean Smith (Chiaroscuro, 1998)
  • John Burr, In My Own Words (Cymekob, 1996)
  • Ann Hampton Callaway, Easy Living (Sin-Drome Records, 1999; Charlap plays on 5 tracks)
  • Freddy Cole, Music Maestro Please (HighNote Records, 2007)
  • Dena DeRose, Love's Holiday (Sharp Nine, 2002; Charlap plays piano on one track)
  • Trudy Desmond, Make Me Rainbows (Koch, 1995)
  • Johnny Frigo, Johnny Frigo's DNA Exposed! (Arbors, 2001)
  • Steve Gilmore, Reflections In The Night (JazzMania Records, 1996)
  • Scott Hamilton, Back to New York (Concord Jazz, 2005)
  • Mary Cleere Haran, This Funny World: Mary Cleere Haran Sings Lyrics by Hart (Concord Theatricals, 1994; Charlap plays piano on 7 tracks)
  • Barbara Lea / Bob Dorough / Dick Sudhalter, Hoagy's Children - Songs Of Hoagy Carmichael Volume One and Volume Two (Audiophile, 1994)
  • Kevin Lutke, Fallen Wood (Ampersand Records, 1996)
  • Brian Lynch, Brian Lynch Meets Bill Charlap (Sharp Nine, 2003)
  • Wynton Marsalis, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis – Cast Of Cats (DMX Music, 2004) – recorded 2003
  • Marian McPartland, An NPR Jazz Christmas With Marian McPartland And Friends II (NPR Classics, 2002)
  • Marian McPartland, Marian McPartland & Friends: 85 Candles, Live in New York (Concord Jazz, 2005; Charlap plays piano on 3 tracks)
  • Marian McPartland, An NPR Jazz Christmas With Marian McPartland And Friends III (NPR Classics, 2006)
  • Gerry Mulligan, Lonesome Boulevard (Verve, 1990)
  • Houston Person, The Art and Soul of Houston Person (HighNote, 2008; Charlap plays piano on 3 tracks)
  • Tim Ries, The Rolling Stones Project (Concord, 2005)
  • the Joe Roccisano Orchestra, Leave Your Mind Behind (Landmark, 1995)
  • Joe Roccisano, Nonet (Double-Time Records, 1998) – recorded in 1997
  • Charles Russo, Clarinet Alla Cinema (Premier Recordings, 1998)
  • Randy Sandke, Trumpet After Dark (Evening Star, 2005)
  • Gary Smulyan, Blue Suite (Criss Cross Jazz, 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
  • Sandy Stewart, Sandy Stewart and Family (Cabaret, 1994; Charlap is arranger and plays piano) - recorded in 1993
  • Barbra Streisand, Love Is the Answer (album) (Columbia, 2009; Charlap plays only on a bonus track: "You Must Believe in Spring")
  • Harvie S, Too Late Now (Ward, 2010) - recorded in 1988
  • Warren Vaché, Dream Dancing (Arbors, 2004) – recorded in 2003
  • Paula West, Come What May (Hi Horse, 2001; Charlap plays piano on 3 tracks)
  • Joe Wilder, Among Friends (Evening Star, 2003)
  • David Yazbek, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (musical) (Ghostlight Records, 2005)

References

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  1. ^ Beckerman, Jim (August 26, 2015). "Jazzman Bill Charlap takes over as Director of Jazz Studies at William Paterson". northjersey.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2015. Retrieved October 19, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d "Bill Charlap Named Director of Jazz Studies at William Paterson University, Continuing a Legacy of Excellence Dating to Program's Founding in 1973". William Paterson University. June 30, 2015. Archived from the original on October 4, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Adler, David R. "Bill Charlap". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
  4. ^ "Bill Charlap biography". Managram Music. Archived from the original on March 25, 2011.
  5. ^ "Bill Charlap". All About Jazz. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  6. ^ "Bill Charlap | Artist | GRAMMY.com". grammy.com. Retrieved 2025-06-21.
  7. ^ "Bill Charlap Trio: Live At The Village Vanguard". NPR. October 8, 2008. Archived from the original on May 5, 2011. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  8. ^ Fred Bouchard (December 7, 2008). "New York Trio: Thou Swell & Always". All About Jazz. Archived from the original on June 25, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  9. ^ "Bill Charlap - Bio". billcharlap.com. Retrieved 2025-06-25.
  10. ^ "Bill Charlap & Renee Rosnes Announce Tour Dates; Reveal Cover Artwork for 'Double Portrait'". Blue Note Records. May 5, 2010. Archived from the original on March 17, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  11. ^ "The Blue Note 7 Celebrates 70 Years of Blue Note Records With Album Release and 50+ City North American Tour". All About Jazz. September 25, 2008. Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  12. ^ "Bill Charlap, Renee Rosnes Duet In 'Double Portrait'". NPR. June 25, 2010. Archived from the original on August 27, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2013.
  13. ^ "Bill Charlap | Album Discography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2017.
  14. ^ "Bill Charlap Trio – Street of Dreams". Blue Note Records. Archived from the original on 2022-01-07. Retrieved 2022-01-07.
  15. ^ "Dee Dee Bridgewater and Bill Charlap / Elemental". Mack Avenue Records. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
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