“Johnny Mercer is the Poet of American music.”
“Richard Rodgers is the Brahms of American music, with his soaring melodies.”
At his May 9 concert, Bill Charlap once again demonstrated his skills as storyteller, pianist, and historian.
This was Charlap’s third visit in five years. His most recent appearance in 2024 featured duets with his wife, Renee Rosnes.
Bill Charlap directs jazz studies at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey. He performs and records with a trio including bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington.
As a scholar of American popular song, Charlap thoughtfully recites lyrics before playing many of his selections, praising the craftsmanship of the poetry: “Listen to how the verse sets up the chorus.”
As a pianist, Charlap demonstrates his knowledge of jazz piano styles spanning the first half of the 20th century. Always focusing on stylistic articulation, he paints sonic pastels, and emphasizes dynamic contrasts, while evoking major pianists in the genre from Earl Hines to Oscar Peterson, from Dave Brubeck to Keith Jarrett.
As historian, Charlap will recount the recorded history of a particular song, comparing different approaches to “Tea for Two,” for example, taken by Lester Young, Oscar Peterson, Art Tatum, Thelonious Monk, Earl Hines, Bill Evans, and George Shearing.
He performs songs by Vernon Duke, Harold Arlen, George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Alec Wilder. But “Jerome Kern is the Angel on top of the tree,” Charlap says. ”And he had one foot in Europe, and one foot in America. He composed sophisticated songs, but the average civilian could sing the melodies.”
Charlap’s full house audience rewarded his warm personality and brilliant performance with a standing ovation. His concert was the sixth and final for this season.
Paul Baker
