Bill Charlap Trio

“Charlap approaches a song the way a lover approaches his beloved” – Time

Grammy-winning pianist Bill Charlap has performed with many of the leading artists of our time. For example, Tony Bennett, Phil Woods, Benny Carter, Gerry Mulligan, and Wynton Marsalis. He is acclaimed for his interpretations of the American popular songbook. Also, he has recorded album-length features of Hoagy Carmichael, Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers and Duke Ellington.

The Bill Charlap Trio, with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington, is one of the leading ensembles in jazz. Here, the Trio has earned three Grammy nominations: 2017’s Uptown Downtown, 2014’s Bill Charlap Trio: Live at the Village Vanguard. Additionally, 2004’s Somewhere: The Songs of Leonard Bernstein. Downbeat gave 2016’s Notes from New York earned a five-star review, hailing it as “a master class in class.” Furthermore, Charlap’s collaboration with Tony Bennett won the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

Now, the Bill Charlap Trio tours all over the world. Also, their New York engagements include regular appearances at Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Village Vanguard. Charlap is the Director of Jazz Studies at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey. Founded in 1973, the program is one of the longest-running and most respected jazz programs in the world.

Peter Washington is one of the most in-demand and recorded bassists in jazz, with a discography of over 400 recordings. Washington’s freelance work includes Dizzy Gillespie, Clark Terry, Milt Jackson, Johnny Griffin, Bobby Hutcherson and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band.

Kenny Washington got his start as a teenager in Lee Konitz’s nonet. He has played drums on hundreds of recordings by Tommy Flanagan, Benny Carter, Clark Terry, Betty Carter, and Johnny Griffin. Also, Ron Carter, Milt Jackson, Dizzy Gillespie, Arturo Sandoval, and Benny Goodman.

Recommended for fans of Kenny Barron, Brad Mehldau, Fred Hersch and Chick Corea.

LEARN MORE: https://www.billcharlap.com/

📸: Phillippe Levy-Stab