“I try to listen better all the time,” says Bill Charlap.
Indeed, the word “listen” ranks high in the pianist’s lexicon. He listens to music of all types and believes the key to success in any musical situation is to listen to his fellow artists. That listening has paid off: at 35 the pianist has become one of the preeminent interpreters of the American popular song as well as one of jazz’s most accomplished improvisers.
Become a JazzTimes member to explore our complete archive of interviews, profiles, columns, and reviews written by music's best journalists and critics.