WAYNE ‑‑ Bill Charlap, internationally acclaimed pianist and director of William Paterson University’s Jazz Studies program, has been nominated for another Grammy Award. “Uptown, Downtown” ‑‑ the latest album by the Bill Charlap Trio, which includes bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington ‑‑ is up for the 2017 award in the "Best Jazz Instrumental Album" category.
Charlap won the 2016 Grammy Award for "Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album" for his collaboration with Tony Bennett, “The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern.” This year’s nomination is his fourth. He was previously nominated for his recordings “Somewhere: The Songs of Leonard Bernstein” and “The Bill Charlap Trio: Live at the Village Vanguard.
Charlap, who joined William Paterson University in 2015, has performed with many leading artists from Phil Woods and Tony Bennett to Gerry Mulligan and Wynton Marsalis. He is known for his interpretations of American popular songs and has recorded albums featuring the music of Hoagy Carmichael, Leonard Bernstein and George Gershwin.
The 60th annual Grammy Awards will be telecast live on CBS on Sunday, Jan. 28.