Bill Charlap Trio • 'S Wonderful

 

Review by Ken Dryden
Best known for his work with Gerry Mulligan and later Phil Woods during the 1990s, pianist Bill Charlap was clearly developing rapidly on his own record dates. Beginning with a crisp rendition of "Time After Time," Charlap, with a formidable rhythm section of bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington, explores a nice mix of standards and jazz classics. His refreshing approach to "Lover" initially adds a Latin rhythm to the sprightly waltz before launching into overdrive. The less familiar material, including a jaunty take of George & Ira Gershwin's "Boy, What Love Has Done to Me" and a breathtaking solo interpretation of Jimmy Van Heusen's dreamy ballad "Only the Lonely," is equally rewarding. The sound on this studio date is so intimate that it sounds as if the listener is sitting right next to the piano. This exquisitely packaged Japanese release is very highly recommended.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/swonderful-mw0000535278


Biography by David R. Adler
Bill Charlap is one of the strongest mainstream jazz pianists on the scene and one of the most gifted interpreters of standards. He grew up in a musical household, as the son of Broadway songwriter Moose Charlap and singer Sandy Stewart. Taking to the piano at a young age, he went on to study at New York's High School of Performing Arts. He then entered college, but rather than finishing, he opted to practice and play on his own. Pianist Bill Mays soon took up Charlap's cause, recommending the young man as his replacement in the Gerry Mulligan Quartet. During this time, Charlap also worked with Benny Carter, Clark Terry, and Frank Wess, and was sought after as an accompanist for singers such as Tony Bennett, Carol Sloane, and Sheila Jordan. In 1995, he secured one of the most coveted piano chairs in jazz with the Phil Woods Quintet.

All the while, Charlap showed steady development as a leader. His debut came in 1994 with Along with Me, followed by Souvenir in 1995 and Distant Star in 1996. His 1997 release, All Through the Night, was the first to feature his trio with the redoubtable (and unrelated) Washingtons, Peter and Kenny, on bass and drums respectively. In 2000, this lineup had its major-label breakthrough with the highly acclaimed Blue Note disc Written in the Stars. Two albums appeared in 2001: 2Gether with Warren Vaché and Contrasts with Jon Gordon. 'S Wonderful hit the shelves in 2002, as did Stardust, which began a series of albums that focused on a single composer. Stardust featured the music of Hoagy Carmichael, 2004's Somewhere was an all-Leonard Bernstein affair, and 2005's Plays George Gershwin featured ten songs by the man Charlap considers "the American soul." Also in 2005, he released an album with vocalist Sandy Stewart, Love Is Here to Stay. The concert album Live at the Village Vanguard appeared in 2007.

In 2010, Charlap joined pianist Renee Rosnes for the duo effort Double Portrait. Two years later, he reunited with Stewart for Something to Remember. In 2015, he collaborated with legendary vocalist Tony Bennett for Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, and in 2017 he released Uptown, Downtown with his trio.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bill-charlap-mn0000763670/biography

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Reseña de Ken Dryden
Más conocido por su trabajo con Gerry Mulligan y más tarde con Phil Woods durante la década de los 90, el pianista Bill Charlap se desarrolló claramente con rapidez en sus propias fechas de grabación. Comenzando con una nítida interpretación de "Time After Time", Charlap, con una formidable sección rítmica formada por el bajista Peter Washington y el batería Kenny Washington, explora una buena mezcla de estándares y clásicos del jazz. Su refrescante enfoque de "Lover" añade inicialmente un ritmo latino al ágil vals antes de lanzarse a la acción. El material menos conocido, incluyendo una alegre versión de "Boy, What Love Has Done to Me" de George & Ira Gershwin y una impresionante interpretación en solitario de la balada de ensueño "Only the Lonely" de Jimmy Van Heusen, es igualmente gratificante. El sonido en esta fecha de estudio es tan íntimo que parece que el oyente está sentado justo al lado del piano. Esta edición japonesa exquisitamente empaquetada es muy recomendable.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/swonderful-mw0000535278


Biografía de David R. Adler
Bill Charlap es uno de los pianistas de jazz más sólidos de la escena y uno de los más dotados intérpretes de estándares. Creció en un hogar musical, como hijo del compositor de Broadway Moose Charlap y la cantante Sandy Stewart. Se aficionó al piano desde muy joven y estudió en la High School of Performing Arts de Nueva York. Después entró en la universidad, pero en lugar de terminar, optó por practicar y tocar por su cuenta. El pianista Bill Mays no tardó en apoyar la causa de Charlap, recomendando al joven como su sustituto en el Gerry Mulligan Quartet. Durante esta época, Charlap también trabajó con Benny Carter, Clark Terry y Frank Wess, y fue solicitado como acompañante de cantantes como Tony Bennett, Carol Sloane y Sheila Jordan. En 1995, consiguió una de las sillas de piano más codiciadas del jazz con el Phil Woods Quintet.

Al mismo tiempo, Charlap mostró un desarrollo constante como líder. Su debut se produjo en 1994 con Along with Me, seguido de Souvenir en 1995 y Distant Star en 1996. Su álbum de 1997, All Through the Night, fue el primero en el que apareció su trío, con los inestimables (y no relacionados) Washington, Peter y Kenny, al bajo y a la batería respectivamente. En el año 2000, esta formación dio su salto a los grandes sellos con el aclamado disco de Blue Note Written in the Stars. En 2001 aparecieron dos álbumes: 2Gether con Warren Vaché y Contrasts con Jon Gordon. 'S Wonderful llegó a las estanterías en 2002, al igual que Stardust, que inició una serie de álbumes centrados en un solo compositor. Stardust presentaba la música de Hoagy Carmichael, Somewhere, de 2004, era un asunto totalmente de Leonard Bernstein, y Plays George Gershwin, de 2005, presentaba diez canciones del hombre que Charlap considera "el alma americana". También en 2005, publicó un álbum con la vocalista Sandy Stewart, Love Is Here to Stay. El álbum de conciertos Live at the Village Vanguard apareció en 2007.

En 2010, Charlap se unió a la pianista Renee Rosnes para el dúo Double Portrait. Dos años después, se reunió con Stewart para Something to Remember. En 2015, colaboró con el legendario vocalista Tony Bennett para Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, y en 2017 publicó Uptown, Downtown con su trío.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bill-charlap-mn0000763670/biography


www.billcharlap.com ...

Tracklist:
1  - Time After Time  - 6:33
2  - My Shining Hour  - 6:04
3  - The Blue Room  - 4:32
4  - Boy,What Love Has Done To Me  - 4:08
5  - Isfahan  - 6:14
6  - Lover  - 5:15
7  - Something To Live For  - 6:44
8  - 'S Wonderful  - 5:01
9  - Summer Serenade  - 6:50
10  - Only The Lonely  - 4:47

Credits:    

Bass – Peter Washington
Drums – Kenny Washington
Piano – Bill Charlap

Label: Venus Records (5) ‎– TKCV-35516
Series: Venus Millennium Campaign –
Released: 25 Nov 2000
Genre: Jazz
https://www.discogs.com/Bill-Charlap-Trio-S-Wonderful/release/12951607

 

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