Grammy Award-winning pianist Bill Charlap has performed with many of the leading artists of our time, including Phil Woods, Tony Bennett, Gerry Mulligan, Wynton Marsalis, Freddy Cole and Houston Person.
Born in New York City, Charlap began playing the piano at age 3. His father was Broadway composer Moose Charlap, whose credits included the musical "Peter Pan," and his mother is singer Sandy Stewart, who toured with Benny Goodman, and was a regular on "The Perry Como Show." She earned a 1963 Grammy nomination for her recording of “My Coloring Book." In 2005, Charlap and Stewart released the acclaimed CD "Love Is Here to Stay" (Blue Note).
In 1997, Charlap formed his trio with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington, now recognized as one of the leading groups in jazz. In 2000, he was signed to Blue Note Records and received two Grammy Award nominations for "Somewhere: The Songs of Leonard Bernstein" and "The Bill Charlap Trio: Live at the Village Vanguard."
He is known for his interpretations of American popular song. Time magazine wrote, “Bill Charlap approaches a song the way a lover approaches his beloved. … No matter how imaginative or surprising his take on a song is, he invariably zeroes in on its essence.” In 2016, "Tony Bennett & Bill Charlap: The Silver Lining — The Songs of Jerome Kern," was awarded a Grammy for best traditional pop album. In April, the Bill Charlap Trio released "Notes from New York," its debut recording for the Impulse! label. Alan Morrison's five-star review in DownBeat magazine called the recording "a master class in class."
In 2019, Charlap celebrated his 15th year as artistic director of New York City’s Jazz in July Festival at 92Y. He has produced concerts for Jazz at Lincoln Center, New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Symphony Center Presents and the Hollywood Bowl.
Charlap is married to renowned jazz pianist and composer Renee Rosnes, and the two artists often collaborate in a duo piano setting. In 2010, Charlap and Rosnes released "Double Portrait" (Blue Note). Charlap is currently the director of jazz studies at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey.
