Bill Charlap comes from a musical background and is a distant cousin to jazz pianist Dick Hyman.[1] His mother, Sandy Stewart,[2] is a singer who had a hit in 1962 with "My Coloring Book", while his father was Broadway composer Moose Charlap.[3] Charlap and his mother recorded a duet album, Love Is Here To Stay. Charlap has recorded seven albums as a leader or co-leader for the Blue Note label, including two Grammy-nominated CDs: Somewhere, featuring the music of Leonard Bernstein, and The Bill Charlap Trio, Live At The Village Vanguard. For the Japanese label Venus Records he has recorded two albums as a leader, as well as eight albums as a member of the New York Trio.

Charlap began playing piano at age three. He later studied classical music, but remained most interested in jazz. He has worked with Gerry Mulligan, Benny Carter, Tony Bennett, and others. In the mid-90s, he was the musical director of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, A Celebration of Johnny Mercer, part of New York's JVC Jazz Festival.[4] In 1995 he joined the Phil Woods Quintet.[3]

Charlap appears at least twice a year for lengthy runs at some of the world's major jazz clubs, including the Village Vanguard[5] with his rhythm section, consisting of Peter Washington (bass) and Kenny Washington (drums). In addition to appearing and recording with Peter Washington and Kenny Washington in the Bill Charlap Trio, since 2001 Charlap has also recorded as a member of the New York Trio for the Japanese label Venus Records. The other members of the New York Trio are bassist Jay Leonhart and drummer Bill Stewart.[6]

Charlap replaced Dick Hyman as Artistic Director of New York's 92nd Street Y "Jazz in July" six program series after Hyman's 20th year in 2004. He married Canadian jazz pianist Renee Rosnes in New York City on August 25, 2007.[7] The pair released an album of piano duets entitled Double Portrait on Blue Note Records/EMI.[8]