Charlap, Bill
Charlap, Bill
Charlap, Bill, American pianist; b. N.Y., Oct. 15, 1966. Able to paint with a rich and melodic pallet, while possessing a pure and bell-like tone, he is a player who is actively looking for new ways to express himself and compliment any musical situation. His sophisticated harmonic knowledge and sense of drama make him one of the most stimulating pianists around. It should come as no surprise that he would pursue a career in music; his parents are Broadway composer Moose Charlap and vocalist Sandy Stewart. At the age of three, he began his piano studies, and his formal musical education included graduation from N.Y.’s H.S. of the Performing Arts.
Over the past several years, he has gained valuable experience through work with Gerry Mulligan, Benny Carter, Louis Bellson, Sheila Jordan, Bobby Short, Barry Manilow, and Tony Bennett, among many others. He has been a key member of the Phil Woods Quintet since 1995, a position that has found him appearing at many of the world’s major jazz festivals, and even guesting on Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz radio show. He also leads his own piano trio and has recorded for the Chiaroscuro and Criss Cross labels. His talent is worthy of wider critical attention and public awareness.
Discography
Along with Me (1994); Souvenir (1995); Distant Star (1997).
—Chris Hovan