William Morrison Charlap (born October 15, 1966, pronounced "Shar-Lap") is an American jazz pianist and educator. He has recorded more than two dozen albums since the 1990s to 2025.
Early life and education Born in New York City, Bill Charlap is the son of American Broadway composer Moose Charlap and the singer Sandy Stewart. Stewart was a regular on Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall television series and had a hit recording in 1962 with "My Coloring Book". Charlap is a distant cousin of the jazz pianist Dick Hyman.
Charlap began playing piano at the age of three. He studied classical music in addition to jazz.
Career Early in Charlap's career, he was a member of Gerry Mulligan's band, first recording with it in 1989. He has also worked with Benny Carter, Tony Bennett, Phil Woods, Scott Hamilton, Ron Carter, and others. In 1993, he released his first album under his own name, Along With Me. In the mid-1990s, he was the musical director of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, A Celebration of Johnny Mercer, part of New York's JVC Jazz Festival. In 1995, he joined the Phil Woods Quintet.
In 1997, Charlap first recorded with a trio that included the unrelated musicians Peter Washington (double bass) and Kenny Washington (drums). This trio continued to record and perform live through the 2020s. Charlap has been nominated for multiple instrumental Grammy Awards. Somewhere was nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Album at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards. Live At The Village Vanguard was nominated in the same category at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, and Uptown, Downtown at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards.
In addition to the instrumental jazz recordings that he has released, Charlap has frequently recorded with singers. He recorded Love Is Here to Stay (2004) and Something to Remember (2012) with his mother, Sandy Stewart. In 2016, The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, an album featuring Charlap and Tony Bennett, won the award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards. As a backing musician, he has recorded with Carol Sloane, Freddie Cole, Barbra Streisand, Diana Krall, and others.
Charlap appears at least twice a year for engagements at jazz clubs, including the Village Vanguard. Since 2001, he has recorded as a member of the studio group New York Trio for the Japanese label Venus Records with bassist Jay Leonhart and drummer Bill Stewart.
Charlap succeeded Dick Hyman as artistic director of New York City's 92nd Street Y Jazz in July six-program series after Hyman's 20th year in 2004. He remained director through 2023. He and his wife, Canadian jazz pianist Renee Rosnes, released an album of piano duets Double Portrait on Blue Note Records/EMI.
In 2008, Charlap became part of The Blue Note 7, a septet formed that year in honor of the 70th anniversary of Blue Note Records. The group recorded an album in 2008, Mosaic, which was released in 2009 on Blue Note/EMI, and toured the United States in promotion of the album from January to April 2009. The group plays the music of Blue Note Records from various artists, with arrangements by members of the band and his wife Renee Rosnes.
In September 2015, Charlap became the Director of Jazz Studies at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey.
Personal life He married the Canadian jazz pianist Renee Rosnes in New York City on August 25, 2007. He has two daughters from a previous marriage and one stepson from Rosnes’ previous marriage to Billy Drummond.
Discography As leader or co-leader Year recordedTitleLabelYear releasedNotes1991–1993Along with MeChiaroscuro1994Trio, with Sean Smith & Andy Eulau (bass; separately), Ron Vincent (drums)1993Bill Charlap & Sean SmithProgressive1993Co-leader duo, with Sean Smith (bass)1993Piano & BassProgressive1994Co-leader duo, with Sean Smith (bass)1995Michael Moore/Bill CharlapConcord Jazz1995Co-leader duo, with Michael Moore (bass)1995SouvenirCriss Cross Jazz1995Trio, with Scott Colley (bass), Dennis Mackrel (drums)1996The Gerry Mulligan SongbookChiaroscuro1997A posthumous tribute to Gerry Mulligan (saxophone), with former members Ted Rosenthal (piano), Dean Johnson (bass), Ron Vincent (drums)1996Distant StarCriss Cross Jazz1997Trio, with Sean Smith (bass), Bill Stewart (drums)1997All Through the NightCriss Cross Jazz1998Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums)1998 'S WonderfulVenus1999Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums)2000GiftAshbrown Productions2000Quartet, with Mark Hodgson (bass), Stephen Keogh (drums), Louis Stewart (guitar)2000Written in the StarsBlue Note2000Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums)2000ContrastsDouble-Time2001Co-leader, duo with Jon Gordon (alto sax)2000Stairway to the Stars Blau2022Quartet, with Mark Hodgson (bass), Stephen Keogh (drums), Louis Stewart (guitar)20002getherNagel-Heyer2001Co-leader, with Warren Vaché (cornet, flugelhorn)2001ArtfullyUrban Beauty2001The European Jazz Piano Trio (Mark Hodgson bass), Stephen Keogh (drums))2001Blues in the NightVenus2001New York Trio (Jay Leonhart (bass), Bill Stewart (drums))2001StardustBlue Note2003Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums), plus guests Tony Bennett (vocals), Frank Wess (tenor sax), Jim Hall (guitar), Shirley Horn (vocals)2002The Things We Did Last SummerVenus2002New York Trio (Jay Leonhart (bass), Bill Stewart (drums))2003Somewhere: The Songs of Leonard BernsteinBlue Note2004Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums)2003Love You MadlyVenus2003New York Trio (Jay Leonhart (bass), Bill Stewart (drums))2003Live at the Village VanguardBlue Note2007Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums); in concert2004You Taught My Heart to SingHighNote2006Co-leader, duo with Houston Person (tenor sax)2004Love is Here to StayBlue Note2005Co-leader, with Sandy Stewart (vocals)2004Stairway to the StarsVenus2005New York Trio (Jay Leonhart (bass), Bill Stewart (drums))2005Plays George Gershwin: The American SoulBlue Note2005Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums), plus guests Nicholas Payton (trumpet), Slide Hampton (trombone), Phil Woods (alto sax), Frank Wess (tenor sax)2005Begin the BeguineVenus2006New York Trio (Jay Leonhart (bass), Bill Stewart (drums))2006Thou SwellVenus2007New York Trio (Jay Leonhart (bass), Bill Stewart (drums))2007AlwaysVenus2008New York Trio (Jay Leonhart (bass), Bill Stewart (drums))2008StardustVenus2008New York Trio (Jay Leonhart (bass), Bill Stewart (drums)) with Ken Peplowski2009I'm Old FashionedVenus2010with Peter Bernstein (guitar), Peter Washington (bass)2009Double PortraitBlue Note2010Co-leader piano duet, with Renee Rosnes (piano)2011Artfully Vol. 2 Blau2016 The European Jazz Piano Trio (Mark Hodgson (bass), Stephen Keogh (drums))2011Something to RememberGhostlight2012Co-leader, with Sandy Stewart (vocals)2015?The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome KernColumbia2015Co-leader, with Tony Bennett (vocals)with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums)2015Notes from New YorkImpulse!2016Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums)2017Uptown, DowntownImpulse!2017Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums)2021Street of DreamsBlue Note2021Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums)2023And Then AgainBlue Note2024Trio, with Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums)2025?ElementalMack Avenue Records2025Co-leader, with Dee Dee Bridgewater (vocals). Nominated for 2026 Grammy Awards in Best Jazz Vocal Album category.
As a member The Blue Note 7 Mosaic: A Celebration of Blue Note Records (Blue Note, 2009) – recorded in 2008
Other Blue Note appearances Bill Charlap, Elvis Costello, Hank Jones, Joe Lovano, Dianne Reeves, Billy Strayhorn: Lush Life (Blue Note, 2007) – compositions of Billy Strayhorn
As sideman
With Harry Allen Harry Allen Plays Ellington Songs with the Bill Charlap Trio (RCA Victor, 2000) – recorded in 1999 Blues for Pres and Teddy (Swingbros, 2011)
With Ronnie Bedford Tour de West: Where the Beboppers Roam (Ronnie Bedford, 1998) Just Friends (Progressive Records, recorded live 1993, released 2002)
With Keter Betts Bass Buddies & Blues (Keter Betts Music, 1999) Bass, Buddies, Blues & Beauty Too (Keter Betts Music, 1999) Pinky's Waltz: Keter Betts, Live At Montpelier! (Jazzmont, 2002)
With Ruby Braff You Brought a New Kind of Love (Arbors, 2004) Variety is the Spice of Braff (Arbors, 2002; Charlap plays piano on 6 tracks)
With Jon Gordon Ask Me Now (Criss Cross Jazz, 1994) Spark (Chiaroscuro, 1995) Witness (Criss Cross Jazz, 1996) Evolution (ArtistShare, 2009)
With Conrad Herwig Heart of Darkness (Criss Cross, 1998) Hieroglyphica (Criss Cross Jazz, 2001)
With Jay Leonhart With His Friends (Live At Fat Tuesday's May 13-15, 1993) (DRG Records, 1993) Great Duets (Chiaroscuro, 1999)
With Carol Sloane When I Look in Your Eyes (Concord Jazz, 1994) The Songs Carmen Sang (Concord Jazz, 1995, Phil Woods plays on 7 tracks) The Songs Sinatra Sang (Concord Jazz, 1996, with Frank Wess) The Songs Ella & Louis Sang (Concord Jazz, 1997, with Clark Terry)
With Sean Smith LIVE! (Chiaroscuro, 1999) Poise (Ambient Records, 2001)
With Byron Stripling Stripling Now! (Nagel–Heyer Records, 1999) – recorded 1998 Byron, Get One Free... (Nagel–Heyer, 2001)
With Phil Woods 1996: Mile High Jazz: Live in Denver (Concord Jazz, 1996) 1996: Astor & Elis (Chesky Records, 1996) 1996: Live 1996 (Revelation, 1998) 1997: Chasin' the Bird (Venus, 1998) 1997: Celebration (Concord Jazz, 1997)) 2000: Voyage with the Bill Charlap Trio at the Floating Jazz Festival Aboard the QE2 (Chiaroscuro, 2001) 2002: The Thrill is Gone with strings (Venus, 2003) 2002: The Great American Songbook, Volumes 1 & 2 (Kind of Blue, 2006) 2004: This is How I Feel About Quincy (Jazzed Media, 2004) 2008: Ballads & Blues (Venus Records, 2009)
With others
Tony Bennett & Diana Krall, Love Is Here to Stay (Verve/Columbia, 2018) Tony Bennett, Duets: An American Classic (Columbia, 2006; Charlap plays piano on one track) Gene Bertoncini, Gene Bertoncini with Bill Charlap and Sean Smith (Chiaroscuro, 1998) John Burr, In My Own Words (Cymekob, 1996) Ann Hampton Callaway, Easy Living (Sin-Drome Records, 1999; Charlap plays on 5 tracks) Freddy Cole, Music Maestro Please (HighNote Records, 2007) Dena DeRose, Love's Holiday (Sharp Nine, 2002; Charlap plays piano on one track) Trudy Desmond, Make Me Rainbows (Koch, 1995) Johnny Frigo, Johnny Frigo's DNA Exposed! (Arbors, 2001) Steve Gilmore, Reflections In The Night (JazzMania Records, 1996) Scott Hamilton, Back to New York (Concord Jazz, 2005) Mary Cleere Haran, This Funny World: Mary Cleere Haran Sings Lyrics by Hart (Concord Theatricals, 1994; Charlap plays piano on 7 tracks) Barbara Lea / Bob Dorough / Dick Sudhalter, Hoagy's Children - Songs Of Hoagy Carmichael Volume One and Volume Two (Audiophile, 1994) Kevin Lutke, Fallen Wood (Ampersand Records, 1996) Brian Lynch, Brian Lynch Meets Bill Charlap (Sharp Nine, 2003) Wynton Marsalis, The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra With Wynton Marsalis – Cast Of Cats (DMX Music, 2004) – recorded 2003 Marian McPartland, An NPR Jazz Christmas With Marian McPartland And Friends II (NPR Classics, 2002) Marian McPartland, Marian McPartland & Friends: 85 Candles, Live in New York (Concord Jazz, 2005; Charlap plays piano on 3 tracks) Marian McPartland, An NPR Jazz Christmas With Marian McPartland And Friends III (NPR Classics, 2006) Gerry Mulligan, Lonesome Boulevard (Verve, 1990) Houston Person, The Art and Soul of Houston Person (HighNote, 2008; Charlap plays piano on 3 tracks) Tim Ries, The Rolling Stones Project (Concord, 2005) the Joe Roccisano Orchestra, Leave Your Mind Behind (Landmark, 1995) Joe Roccisano, Nonet (Double-Time Records, 1998) – recorded in 1997 Charles Russo, Clarinet Alla Cinema (Premier Recordings, 1998)