Bill Charlap

William Morrison "Bill" Charlap (born October 15, 1966, pronounced "Shar-Lap") is an American jazz pianist.

Early life and education

Born in New York City, Bill Charlap comes from a musical background. His mother, Sandy Stewart, is a singer who had a hit in 1962 with "My Coloring Book," while his father was Broadway composer Moose Charlap. Charlap is a distant cousin to jazz pianist Dick Hyman. Charlap began playing piano at age three. He later studied classical music, but he has remained most interested in jazz.

Career

Charlap and his mother recorded two duet albums, Love Is Here To Stay (2011) and "Something To Remember" (2013). Charlap has recorded seven albums as a leader or co-leader for the Blue Note label, including two Grammy-nominated CDs: Somewhere, featuring the music of Leonard Bernstein, and The Bill Charlap Trio, Live At The Village Vanguard. For the Japanese label Venus Records he has recorded two albums as a leader, as well as eight albums as a member of the New York Trio.