The new millennium has been a period of worldwide experimentation within the jazz art form. This energy is healthy. Jazz must innovate, or it will stagnate. But when you hear an album like Bill Charlap's Grammy-nominated Uptown, Downtown, you realize that creative breakthroughs can also occur in the context of, and because of, the inspiration of the great jazz tradition. "Style" can be a neutral term, meaning simply "approach" or "manner." But style of surpassing grace and proportion, as practiced by Charlap, becomes art in itself. He is often described as a "mainstream" piano player, but his own understanding is that, as he puts it, "All art is about being yourself, about being driven and guided by your truest inner voice. I'm not feeling responsible to be the custodian of anything. There's a grand line that goes from Joplin to Jarrett and the present day. For me, it's about feeling the whole language and finding my way within it. And I love the songwriters. It's just natural to me. I grew up watching these songs being written." READ THE FULL JazzTimes ARTICLE

 Bill Charlap's trio will play Penn State's Schwab Auditorium on February 13. In 2017, the trio(bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington) released: "Uptown, Downtown," which was nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Album in the 2017 Grammy Awards. In 2015, Charlap won a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Album in teaming up with Tony Bennett, an American singer, on "The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern." "Bill Charlap approaches a song the way a lover approaches his beloved" says Time magazine. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060; min-height: 14.0px} READ THE FULL Underground ARTICLE

It's music's big night, and we're watching. Chris Jordan, one of New Jersey's USA Today Network music and entertainment reporters, will be following along as the music industry hands out its top honors during the 60th annual Grammy Awards at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan. The TV broadcast begins at 7:30 p.m. on CBS. Stay tuned. Chris Jordan will have the details on these and other local nominees, including: Jazzman Bill Charlap, the director of jazz studies at William Paterson University in Wayne, is up for a Grammy as his "Uptown, Dopwntown," credited to the Bill Charlap Trio, is nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Album.  SEE THE NorthJersey.com PAGE p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060; min-height: 14.0px}

No stranger to success, a distinguished pianist and director of William Paterson University's jazz studies program is in the running for his second Grammy Award this month. Bill Charlap and his longtime bandmates, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington, comprise the Bill Charlap Trio. The group's latest album, "Uptown, Downtown," received a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Instrumental Album. "We've been musical partners for 20 years now and seen a lot of the road together," Charlap said, lauding his bandmates as master musicians. "We are seeking a lot of the same paradigms and have certain things at the essence of music, like trusting each other's time and listening." Charlap, 51, of West Orange, won the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for his collaboration with Tony Bennett, titled "The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern." His wife, pianist Renee Rosnes, also appeared on the record. READ FULL northjersey.com ARTICLE p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Helvetica} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 11.0px Helvetica; min-height: 13.0px}

This weekend will be the Highlights of 2017 shows on PRI's Jazz After Hours. The list was carefully selected, based on several factors (including spins and depth), and reflects the sound of the show this year. 

Host Jeff Hanley delivers just the right mix of contemporary and classical jazz music on Public Radio International's - Jazz After Hours. Whole welcoming guests such as Ray Brown, Max Roach, Joe Henderson, Milt Henderson and many more, you'll also hear about upcoming tours, festivals, clubs, and the best places to hear live jazz. Jazz After Hours was named one of the top syndicated jazz programs by "JazzTimes" and has been nominated twice for the Willis Conover Award.   Cecile McLorin Salvant,  Bill Charlap Trio & Billy Childs make the 2017 highlights program 

Here is a compilation of our Jazz Notes reviews of some of the year's best Jazz recordings. We'll be continuing our list in next week's blog so "stay tuned"! Pianist Bill Charlap Trio's new album - Uptown Downtown breathes new life into often played standards. His one of a kind, lush inimitable style draws us closer to these time-tested tunes that have become true classics. Charlap is one of the best pianists in Jazz today as he shares his creative interpretations of these infectious melodies – showing off his very expressive and intuitive approach and deep knowledge of the music. His trio consists of Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums. SEE ALL Dirty Dog: Jazz Notes With Judy Adams album reviews of 2017     p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #263e0f} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; color: #263e0f; min-height: 14.0px}

It's that time again, 10 days at the tail end of autumn in which jazz buffs of every stripe and persuasion can converge on London secure in the knowledge that they can pig out on one of the most eclectic musical buffets available over the counter sans prescription. Truly something for everyone. So no real surprises when Friday evening on the opening day of the festival found me ensconced at Pizza Express, standing up to be counted, when pianist Bill Charlap brought his trio to town along with special guest Colin Oxley, on guitar. It's said that we can't choose our parents but if we could then young William was one shrewd cookie selecting as his sire fine Broadway composer Moose Charlap and as his dam Sandy Stewart, one of the finest vocalists to hold a cabaret card and active for several years on the supper-club, cabaret and jazz circuit. If you wanted to be cute you could say Bill Charlap plays a lot of piano – it's got 89 keys – but Charlap is better than that, much better. Maestro hits the spot. Exquisite takes it to the next level. Precision personified he takes great care to place each note exactly where it will best complement both the note that's just gone and the one on its way; he doesn't so much create music as fashion a mosaic, a tapestry, call it what you will or Twelfth Night. READ THE FULL Jazz Journal REVIEW p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px}

The KCCK: Cedar Rapids IA , Featured CD for October is "Uptown Downtown" from the Bill Charlap Trio. The disc marks a milestone for the Grammy-winning pianist and his longtime trio mates bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington. They've been a New York City staple since 1997, and their chemistry is on full display as they celebrate their 20th anniversary with a collection of essential melodies from composers such as Gerry Mulligan, Richard Rodgers, Jim Hall and Duke Ellington. "Uptown Downtown" is on Impulse! Records.     p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px}

Pianist Bill Charlap's new album - Uptown Downtown breathes new life into often played standards. His one of a kind, lush, inimitable style draws us closer to these time-tested tunes that have become true classics. Charlap is one of the best pianists in Jazz today as he shares his creative interpretations of these infectious melodies – showing off his very expressive and intuitive approach and deep knowledge of the music. His trio consists of Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums.  p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px} Detroit Public Radio mainstay, Judy Adams, is a pianist, composer and musicologist who hosts a Jazz and contemporary music show on CJAM 99.1FM and guest hosts on WRCJ 90.9FM. SEE THE FULL Dirty Dog PAGE

The last time I saw pianist Bill Charlap was in July at 92Y's Jazz in July series in New York, where he directed one of the most intimate and rewarding jazz concerts I've seen in some time. Bill's trio backed Jimmy Heath and Benny Golson, two legendary tenor saxophonists who were in superb form that night. Jeremy Pelt also joined the group on trumpet. Much of the concert's cohesion and success was a result of Bill's inspiring performance. His solos were so imaginative and impeccable throughout that both Jimmy and Benny would wander over to the piano to watch the magic. Bill was really something, not to mention Jimmy and Benny, bassist David Wong and drummer Kenny Washington. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px} Now Bill has released Uptown, Downtown (Impulse), a trio recording featuring Peter Washington on bass (above) and Kenny Washington on drums (no relation). Recorded in March 2017, the song list includes many surprises. [Photo above of Peter Washington courtesy of Bill Charlap] SEE ALL JazzWax REVIEWS

Jazz pianist and two-time Grammy Award winning pianist Bill Charlap performs songs from his new album "Uptown, Downtown" live in studio on: WNYC: New York - The Leonard Lopate show. Charlap and his longtime trio partners bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington get back to the highest standards with an album of quintessential compositions - Uptown Downtown. Released on Impulse!/Verve on September 8, the album celebrates the trio's twentieth year playing together, the Bill Charlap Trio will be taking up residence at the Village Vanguard on September 5 for two weeks performing songs from the album, among other uniquely chosen repertoire from their vast trio book. Bill Charlap will also perform an all-improvised concert with Dick Hyman on Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. at the 92nd St. Y's Kaufmann Concert Hall (1395 Lexington Ave., between 91st and 92nd St.). LISTEN TO The Leonard Lopate show SEGMENT p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px}

Grammy award winning pianist Bill Charlap, considered to be one of the premiere interpreters of the music of Leonard Bernstein, brings his celebrated Trio to the Jeanne Rimsky stage on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at 8 PM for an evening of music by one of America's great composers. 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 three. His father was Broadway composer Moose Charlap, whose credits include Peter Pan, and his mother is singer Sandy Stewart, who toured with Benny Goodman, and was a regular on the Perry Como show. 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 received two Grammy Award nominations for Somewhere: The Songs of Leonard Bernstein and The Bill Charlap Trio: Live at the Village Vanguard. READ FULL BroadwayWorld ARTICLE p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px} span.Apple-tab-span {white-space:pre}

Grammy Award-winning pianist, Bill Charlap has been a recording artist since 1993. In addition to making music for 20-plus years, Charlap has also found time to bring music to diverse, and perhaps underserved demographics. According to the artist's website, for just longer than a decade, he has served as artistic director of New York City's Jazz in July Festival. The musician also works as the Director of Jazz Studies at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey. Charlap has recorded with notables such as Wynton Marsalis, Freddy Cole, Tony Bennett and others. It was for his work with Bennett that Charlap earned a Grammy in 2016.  Charlap formed his trio in 1997. The group is completed by Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums. All parts of the trio play a significant role in Bill Charlap Trio's new album, "Uptown Downtown." There is an up-and-down feel in the song's rhythm. Then, what sounds like groupings of triplet notes are played at different speeds over the haunting bassline. Actually, the bassline sounds more ominous when the triplets are played atop it. The drums neither overpower, nor do they get overshadowed by, the rest of the instrumentation. "Uptown Downtown" is set for release Sept. 8, 2017.  PHOTO: Andrea Canter READ THE FULL LEMON WIRE ARTICLE p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px}

The Bill Charlap Trio, a fixture of the New York jazz firmament, began making music together 20 years ago. To celebrate milestone, the group - with Charlap on piano, Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums - has announced a new studio album. Impulse!/Verve will release the album, Uptown, Downtown, on Sept. 8, during the trio's next two-week residency at the Village Vanguard. Here is the title track, a cool blue saunter in a minor key, which makes its debut at WBGO. LISTEN p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px}

When a technician inspecting Oscar Peterson's cherished Bösendorfer Imperial piano told his widow Kelly "the piano needs to be played," she knew it was time. Barely touched since the jazz legend's death in 2007, it became the focus of a labour of love as Kelly gathered some of the world's best jazz pianists to record a tribute to this iconic instrument. The resulting record, Oscar, With Love, is a rare chance to hear Oscar's original compositions interpreted by his closest musical friends, performed on his beloved piano. Among them, Bill Charlap. The performance is set for tonight, Monday, July 10 at NAC Southam Hall. Ottawa Citizen's Peter Hum chatted with Charlap who's enthusiasm and phenomenal erudition regarding Peterson bubbled over. READ THE Q&A p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial}

2017 JJA Jazz Awards Nominees were chosen by the votes of Jazz Journalists Association members. Nominations were made on the basis of work done in calendar year 2016, with the exception of Lifetime Achievement Awards categories, in which nominations are for a lifetime body of work. Members and others were able to submit their own work for consideration in the Photo of the Year category; a committee of JJA Members chose the nominees in that category from among the submissions. Winners of the 2017 JJA Jazz Awards in all categories will be determined by the votes of JJA Professional Journalist Members; and will be announced on May 15. Bill Charlap gets 2 noms, one for 'Duo/Trio Of The Year' & for Pianist Of The Year SEE JJA PAGE LISTING ALL NOMINEES

Bill Charlap, who is set to play the Gallagher Theater, Xavier University in Cincinnati on March 26, took home a Grammy last year, curiously, for Best Traditional Pop Album for "The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern." Charlap's latest on Impulse/Verve - "Notes from New York," is an album by the long-running Charlap trio, which earned a five-star review from Downbeat magazine. Critic Allen Morrison lauded the recording as "a master class in, well, class." But all you need to be convinced is a listen to Charlap's elegiac and unaccompanied version of "On the Sunny Side of Street," which closes the record. Played with slow but loving elegance, it presents the standard not in its usual percolating form but as a gorgeous meditation. Now here is the great news: Charlap is in the region for a Sunday afternoon concert at Xavier University in Cincinnati. Removed as he is from New York, audiences in the area may be unfamiliar with his music. Trust me. This jazz outing cannot come more recommended. p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px} READ THE FULL Lexington Herald Leader ARTICLE

Playing a melody is an art in itself, one that necessitates experience, intuition and humility. In the jazz capitol of the world, New York City, Bill Charlap is considered one of the great interpreters of melodies, songs written for musicals, and Broadway shows or films that when moved from their original source, become the standards that jazz artists make their own. For his debut impulse! recording, Notes From New York, Charlap has defined and refined his position in the pantheon of New York piano stylists, whose highly influential jazz piano icons include Tommy Flanagan, Hank Jones, and Jimmy Rowles. Tony Bennett, with whom Charlap has recently collaborated with on the Grammy® Award-winning album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, effuses further that "in the tradition of Art Tatum, Teddy Wilson, George Shearing, Count Basie and Duke Ellington - Bill Charlap joins them as one of the greatest American musicians of our time." SEE NPR PAGE

It was a family affair last night on the December 10 at The Kennedy Center's Family Theater for the annual NPR's A Jazz Piano Christmas. With performances by first a father and daughter team, Bethany and Willie Pickens; and later by a husband and wife team, Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes; Christmas felt very much present in the room. The evening started with host Félix Contreras, of NPR fame, who welcomed the crowd. Since this show –or elements of it-will be aired later on in the radio station, there were a few moments that were polished enough to be aired and some off the cuff moments that created a relaxed environment. The night kicked off with performances by Willie and Bethany Pickens. After this set, it was time for husband and wife Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes. Félix asked the couple the same question, how does music inform the relationship, which comes first the closeness through music or is the music enhanced by the intimacy you achieve through marriage. Renee explained that they have a beautiful marriage and it is reflected in how they perform together. When Félix tossed the question back to Bill, he just said "it's all in one." Indeed, a man of few words but a deep talent. The duo kicked off their performance with "Sleigh Ride," a magical rendition of the classical. The set by Bill and Renee delivered a pure performance, closer to the original songs. During the second half of the night, for "Christmas Time is Here," Bill and Renee performed a beautiful rendition of the classic composed by Lee Mendelson and Vince Guaraldi. Bill said that every time he plays the song he can hear the children's voices from the beloved Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts characters. Later on Renee took to a piano solo and performed a medley of Christmas songs; while Bill's solo featured "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." READ THE FULL DC Metro Theatre Arts REVIEW SEE KGOU RADIO PAGE SEE NPR Berlin PAGE p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px}

Outside Rifftides world headquarters, we're having the first snowfall of the season. The prediction is for three inches here tonight and an accumulation of as much as a foot in the nearby ski areas of the Cascade Mountains. The temperature is in the low twenties (Fahrenheit), but neighborhood children are in their yards laughing, shouting and building snowmen. So, what does it make sense to listen to? Why, Bill Charlap playing "Blue Skies," of course. This was in Germany in 2002 The plan had been to bring you Charlap playing his gorgeous new solo version of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," but the Steinway website is not providing a way to appropriate the video. However, if you follow this link,  you should be able to see and hear Mr. Charlap caress that perennial favorite. WATCH VIDEO ON artsjournal / Rifftides PAGE p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px}

One of the world's preeminent jazz pianists, Bill Charlap comes to Delray Beach this weekend at the end of what has been a particularly fulfilling year, beginning with the Grammy Award he shared with Tony Bennett for their album "The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern." A couple of months later, the Bill Charlap Trio (with drummer Kenny Washington and bassist Peter Washington) released "The Bill Charlap Trio: Notes From New York," a collection received with uncommon reverence. Jazz Times magazine called the album "a paradigm shift in the piano-trio canon" and "an album of such instrumental invention and brio that it easily stands as the year's most purely delightful recording thus far." The trio's program this weekend will highlight the music of George Gershwin, Harold Arlen and Leonard Bernstein. SEE THE SouthFlorida.com PAGE