Bill Charlap: piano; Peter Washington: double bass; Kenny Washington: drums.

Bill Charlap is a traditional pianist whose recordings usually consist of jazz standards and borrowed compositions. In his latest, “Notes From New York”, the story repeats itself and he leads his reputable trio, composed of his longtime associates Peter Washington on double bass and Kenny Washington on drums, on a voyage that tries to bring the past into the present.
To the habitual structural simplicity, Charlap adds his personal melodic touch through a clear language that also reveals agility.
Whether in a hurried or laid-back pace, the rigor of the rhythm section guarantees the solid foundation for the pianist’s nimble moves.
From the selection of standards, I was particularly pleased with the beautifully dragging accent of “Make Me Rainbows”, the looseness of “A Sleepin’ Bee”, and the sentimentality of “Too Late Now”.
Clearly, jazz purists will be content… but probably they won’t be the only ones.

Favorite Tracks:
02 – Make Me Rainbows ► 05 – A Sleepin’ Bee ► 07 – Too Late Now