Bill Charlap

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Charlap comes from a musical family and began playing at an early age. His parents were involved with popular music — his father as a Broadway composer, his mother as a singer — and he grew up immersed in the Great American Songbook. His professional career has been stellar: he began with a stint as Gerry Mulligan's pianist and graduated to leading his own trio and being, for the last decade, a member of Phil Woods's combo. He has appeared as a sideman in more than fifty recordings, and his own sessions have won much critical acclaim.

None of these prepares us for his Kerrytown Concert House recital on Friday, December 10, where he will appear on the stage alone, without the usual support. As far as I know, he has not been to our town before, and this should be a jazz piano delight.   

[Originally published in December, 2004.]