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Bill Charlap Trio at Tilles Center for the Performing Arts
ByTilles Center for the Performing Arts
Jazz on Stage with Matt Wilson
Brookville, NY
November 8, 2015
To witness pianist Bill Charlap in action is to receive an education, so who better than the newly-appointed Director of Jazz Studies at William Paterson University to help kick off a new performance and education initiative at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts?
While Jazz has always been part of the programming at this arts venue on Long Island University's CW Post campus, with everybody from

John Pizzarelli
guitarb.1960

Tierney Sutton
vocalsb.1963

Wynton Marsalis
trumpetb.1961

Matt Wilson
drumsb.1964
Charlap was still fresh as can be when it came time for that pre-concert talk, despite having spent the morning sharing his knowledge with music students in a masterclass setting. A wide variety of topics were addressed in conversationeverything from the pianist's musical bloodline to his time spent with the late

Phil Woods
saxophone, alto1931 - 2015
The same level of wit and intelligence that came through in conversation was also on display during the concert itself, as Charlap was quick to explain the origin story behind a song, mention the writing partnerships that birthed the music, or rattle off the lyrics to a given piece. The show opened with "I'll Remember April," a performance that found Charlap mixing firm thoughts with frilly rejoinders while drummer

Kenny Washington
drumsb.1958

Peter Washington
bassb.1964

Gerry Mulligan
saxophone, baritone1927 - 1996

Hoagy Carmichael
piano1899 - 1981
Charlap continued to blend roles as the show rolled on, serving as artist, entertainer, and historian all at once. He took the time to share lyrics with the audience after a lively "Who Cares?," noting how relevant the words still are in today's world; he shared the history behind "What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?," explaining how

Michel Legrand
piano1932 - 2019

Willie "The Lion" Smith
piano1897 - 1973
If the concert would've concluded at that point, to borrow a Passover phrase, it would've been enough. But the Bill Charlap Trio had more gifts to give. There was a run through "Put On A Happy Face" that found Charlap and Kenny Washington trading solos, a take on "Glitter And Be Gay" with an elegant outro, an impossibly fast "The Way You Look Tonight" that gave both Washingtons a chance to shine, and a show-ending double dose of music from West Side Storyan emotionally-weighted "Somewhere" and a version of "Cool" that lived up to its name. After a standing ovation and calls for more, Charlap returned and spoke earnestly about his friend, the late Mickey Leonard. The encoresheartfelt performances of Leonard's "I'm All Smiles" and "Like Someone In Love"were simply magical, as Charlap's taste and touch were evident in his every gesture.
Before the show began, when Charlap was sharing his thoughts with the audience, he remarked that "you can't invent chemistry." He's right. It's either there or it isn't, and with this group, it's always there. This was a beautiful beginning to a series that fills a need both on the performance and educational ends of the spectrum. Here's to hoping that it continues long into the future.
Tags
Bill Charlap
Live Reviews
Dan Bilawsky
United States
New York
John Pizzarelli
Tierney Sutton
wynton marsalis
Matt Wilson
Phil Woods
Kenny Washington
Peter Washington
Gerry Mulligan
Hoagy Carmichael
Michel Legrand
Willie "The Lion" Smith
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