Bill Charlap

New York jazz pianist Bill Charlap began piano lessons at the age of three (encouraged by his father - composer Moose Charlap, and mother - singer Sandy Stewart) and like many budding pianists studied classical music before turning to jazz. Charlap is a gifted musician whose formal training has served him well playing for artists such as Tony Bennett, Gerry Mulligan, Benny Carter and Scott Hamilton. In parallel to his work as a sideman he has had a successful solo career and has been twice nominated for a Grammy Award. One of these nominations was for his critically acclaimed album 'Somewhere' released in 2004. 'Somewhere' is a compilation album of Leonard Bernstein songs and Charlap's intelligent interpretations of Bernstein's compositions coupled with his outstanding piano playing earned him the respect of his peers as well as the record buying public. Charlap has recorded over 20 albums as a solo perfomer as well as numerous appearances as a sideman. In recent years he has appeared as a member of the The Blue Note 7, a septet formed to celebrate 70 years of Blue Note music.