1.You`d Be So Nice To Come Home To
2.My Heart Belongs To Daddy
3.So In Love
4.Begin The Beguine
5.I Love Paris
6.From This Moment On
7.Just One Of Those Things			play
8.Easy To Love
9.Every Time We Say Goodbye

Personnel:
Bill Charlap – Piano
Jay Leonhart – Bass
Bill Stewart – Drums

The New York Trio consists of pianist Bill Charlap, bassist Jay Leonhart, and drummer Bill Stewart, though it exists solely as a studio band for the Japanese label Venus, as Charlap's regular trio includes Peter Washington and Kenny Washington. Even though this band only meets occasionally in the studio to record yet another release in their prolific series for the Japanese jazz market, there is plenty of chemistry between the three veterans, while the nine songs from the vast Cole Porter songbook were likely to have been a part of each musician's repertoire long before these 2005 sessions. Charlap's lyrical piano style is quite effective, capturing the nuances of Porter's humor (even though none of his lyrics are heard), while the rhythm section gels nicely with the pianist. Highlights include a jaunty "My Heart Belongs to Daddy," a dreamy "Begin the Beguine," and a snappy "From This Moment On." ---Ken Dryden, allmusic.com

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01. Lover Come Back To Me (S. Romberg)
02. Stairway To The Stars (M. Malneck, F. Signorelli)
03. Lullaby Of The Leaves (B. Petkere)
04. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (J. Kern)
05. I'll Be Seeing You (S. Fain)						play
06. Can't Help Loving Dat Man (J. Kern)
07. Body And Soul (J. Green)
08. The Man I Love (G. Gershwin)
09. A Sleeping Bee (H. Arlen)
10. Stella By Starlight (V. Young)						play

Musicians:
Bill Charlap - piano
Jay Leonhart - bass
Bill Stewart – drums

The New York Trio has produced a series of enjoyable session for Venus since the beginning of the 21st century. Consisting of pianist Bill Charlap, bassist Jay Leonhart and drummer Bill Stewart, their fifth CD together is similar to earlier efforts, concentrating on accessible treatments of selections from the Great American Songbook. The opening track, "Lover, Come Back to Me," is a swinging affair, with lots of amusing quotes inserted into the mix. "Stairway to the Stars" is suitably a dreamy interpretation, full of romance and gorgeous voicings by Charlap. The bittersweet ballad "I'll Be Seeing You" (forever associated with World War II films where the soldier leaves his love) is a solo feature for Charlap, played with tenderness. "Body and Soul" is one of the most recorded songs in jazz history, but the trio's rendition is worthwhile, even if little new ground is broken. This well-played collection of timeless ballads is perfect for unwinding at the end of the day. --- Ken Dryden, allmusic.com

Performed "one night only," and that night November 12, 1989, at the London Palladium, Stairway to the Stars is billed as "a tribute to the golden years of the Hollywood musical," and finds some of the performers who appeared in Hollywood musicals in those golden years coming out of retirement as a benefit for the charity Aid of Action Research for the Crippled Child. Van Johnson ("I bet you thought I was older") serves as host, and the other stars include Dorothy Lamour, doing a medley of songs from the "road" pictures she appeared in with Bing Crosby and Bob Hope; Jane Russell recalling her triumphs in Paleface and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes; and the Nicholas Brothers singing and re-creating their dance routines in front of screenings of scenes from their films (not visible to CD listeners, of course, but at least their vocals can be heard). Some of the material seems shoehorned in. Lorna Luft, daughter of Judy Garland, devotes nearly 12 minutes to the core of her standard nightclub act, a piece of special material called "Not Even Nominated," which is a medley of famous songs that somehow went entirely unrecognized by the motion picture academy. Dolores Gray, who did not appear in the movie version of Gypsy, but has no doubt played it on-stage, gets seven minutes for an overdone performance of the entire "Rose's Turn" scene from that show (a scene that's hard to overdo). Much better are Russell and Arlene Dahl's duet on the scathing "Bosom Buddies" (even though this song from the 1966 musical Mame does not derive from the golden years of the Hollywood musical) and Gloria DeHaven's "Who's Sorry Now" (a song, she explains, that was introduced by her mother and that she sang, playing the part of her mother, in the film Three Little Words). Understandably, the performers often sound like they've aged, but they also sound happy to be on-stage again singing to an appreciative audience for a good cause. ---William Ruhlmann, Rovi

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1. Shadow of Your Smile (J. Mandel) 4:54					play
2. Things We Did Last Summer (J. Styne) 6:38
3. How Long Has This Been Going On? (George & Ira Gershwin) 7:36
4. How High the Moon (M. Lewis) 7:49
5. Mona Lisa (J. Livingstone) 3:40							play
6. You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To (Cole Porter) 9:13
7. It's Only a Paper Moon (H. Arlen) 6:02
8. When Your Lover Has Gone (Einar A. Swan) 8:02
9. As Time Goes By (H. Humpfield) 5:44

Personnel: 
Bill Charlap (piano); 
Jay Leonhart (double bass);
Bill Stewart (drums).

Bill Charlap is one of the greatest piano jazz players in the world today. His encyclopedic knowledge of the American Songbook is amazing and this disc contains a nice representative cross section. This disc is one of about five so far on the Japanese Venus label featuring the New York Trio. They are all recorded in 24 bit sound using a proprietary Hyper Magnum Sound that is so pristine it's just remarkable. Rather close miked so you get lots of details. This is an amazing and refreshing disc to wind down from the press of modern life with. I just enjoy his playing so much. Bill and company reach down into these old songs and pull out gems you haven't heard before. What finesse and refinement and sensitivity they play with, and really enjoy themselves at the same time. This is a level of jazz music you won't find often. Enjoy. --- Edward Weeks Sager (Sebring, FL USA)

The relaxed tone of this CD is set from the beginning, with Bill Charlap's quiet, spare solo reading of "The Shadow of Your Smile." On the next track, the others join in for some mellow and friendly swinging: Jay Leonhart's big, fat bass grounds Charlap's dreaminess, while Bill Stewart, who's left his sticks at home for this date, brushes up the tempo with subtlety and style. This release offers thoughtful solo piano (also on "Mona Lisa"), slow, romantic ballads ("How Long Has This Been Going On," "Paper Moon"), and tasty mid-tempo treatments ("As Time Goes By," "When Your Lover Has Gone"). While there are no barnburners, the heat rises to a steady simmer on "You'd Be So Nice..." and "How High the Moon," where the players are audibly enjoying themselves. Leonhart's solos are consistently interesting, drizzled with wit, and the ever-lyrical Charlap provides rarely heard verses to six of these nine classic tunes. The CD will lease those who like their jazz served straight up and pared down to essentials; its simplicity is deceptive, given the level of expertise and feeling throughout. --- Judith Schlesinger, Rovi

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01.Thou Swell						play
02.My Funny Valentine
03.I Didn't Know What Time It Was
04.Where Or When
05.My Heart Stood Still
06.That's For Me
07.Have You Met Miss Jones?			play
08.There's A Small Hotel
09.With A Song In My Heart
10.Wait Till You See Her

Personnel:
Bill Charlap (piano);
Jay Leonhart (bass);
Bill Stewart (drums).

If you like Charlap's American albums, pick all of these up! I can't believe no one seems to know about these New York Trio CDs from Japan. There are six now (seven if you include 'S Wonderful by the Bill Charlap Trio)and another on the way, "Always". Beautiful trio work and superb recordings. They are expensive and if you can't afford them all perhaps the very best one is "Love You Madly" which focuses on Duke Ellington material. Second and third choices are 'S Wonderful and Stairway to the Stars. But if you enjoy piano trio work at a high level all of them are worth owning. The range of material recorded from the American Songbook is very broad and I felt like I had found buried treasure when I heard these CDS. ---blue skies "music lover", amazon.com

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01. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (6:45)
02. There's A Small Hotel (4:46)
03. The Things We Did Last Summer (6:38)
04. Have You Met Miss Jones (4:01)
05. In A Sentimental Mood (5:57)
06. Can't Help Loving Dat Man (5:03)
07. Change Partners (4:49)
08. The Shadow Of Your Smile (4:55)
09. Stairway To The Stars (5:36)
10. The Man I Love (7:18)
11. That's For Me (4:17)
12. Always (5:20)
13. Jump For Joy (4:46)
14. Cheek To Cheek (5:46)
15. They Say It's Wonderful (3:48)

Bill Charlap - piano;
Jay Leonhart - double bass;
Bill Stewart - drums.

Also known as the New York Jazz Trio, this combo is a studio-only group who specialize in recording classic standards in a straightforward, post-bop style. The New York Trio features three gifted musicians who are firmly established on the East Coast jazz scene. Pianist Bill Charlap is a member of the Phil Woods Quintet, has accompanied the likes of Tony Bennett, Benny Carter, and Gerry Mulligan, and has recorded a handful of well-received albums for Blue Note as a bandleader. Bassist Jay Leonhart has recorded as a headliner since 1983, while also making a name for himself as a vocalist and songwriter as well as backing up Marian McPartland, Louie Bellson, Lee Konitz, and many others. And drummer Bill Stewart had handled demanding gigs with a variety of musicians, including jazz guitarist John Scofield, funky sax man Maceo Parker and R&B legend James Brown. In 2001, Charlap, Leonhart, and Stewart teamed up in the studio to cut the album Blues in the Night for the Venus Jazz label; featuring leisurely but heartfelt interpretations of eight classic melodies, the album was well-received by fans of classic jazz. Seven similar collections have been recorded by the trio for Japanese jazz labels. ---Mark Deming, allmusic.com

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1. In The Middle Of A Kiss 		
2. Body And Soul 		
3. Serenade To Sweden 		
4. No Regrets 		
5. My Funny Valentine			play 		
6. So In Love 		
7. Stardust 		
8. Summertime 		
9. Stardust Reprise				play

Personnel:
Ken Peplowski (Klarinett);
Bill Charlap (piano);
Jay Leonhart (bass);
Bill Stewart (drums).

How could this disc already be out-of-print, when it was only just released in 2009? Whatever. In any event, it's one of the better releases I've heard lately from Japan's redoubtable Venus Records, which mixes outrageous cover art with tastefully subdued jazz. If most of their releases only rise to about a 2 or 3 on a musical intensity scale of 10, this one manages a 4, with pianist Bill Charlap's excellent New York Trio swinging things just a bit harder. Meanwhile, Ken Peplowksi continues his run of trying to earn the title as Venus's Most Valuable Player. On clarinet, he continues to amaze with a ravishing tone and virtuosic technique. His quest to become a major player on the tenor sax is another matter, however, although he's trying to ratchet up the energy level a bit here, and even take on a slightly scratchier tone, in an effort to distinguish himself from Stan Getz, of whom he can frequently sound like a slavish imitator. The proof is in the pudding. It takes a lot of nerve to record new versions of very familiar standards like "Body and Soul" and "My Funny Valentine" and the title track, Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust", which have been given definitive readings by far more famous players. Do these guys pull it off? With "Body and Soul" at least, the answer's a resounding yes. They give it a surprising new twist by letting Charlap's piano state the theme, which he does richly and unapologetically, then passing the first solo to Peplowski's clarinet, for a very minimalist reading. I like it a lot. ---Matthew Watters, amazon.com

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1 	Star Crossed Lovers 	4:27
2 	Jump For Joy 	4:41
3 	In A Sentimental Mood 	5:52
4 	Love You Madly 	8:16
5 	Sophisticated Lady 	4:53
6 	I'm Just A Lucky So-And-So 	6:43
7 	Prelude To A Kiss 	6:13
8 	It Don't Mean A Thing 	3:50
9 	C Jam Blues 	4:31
10 	I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart 	7:11
11 	Warm Valley 	5:39

Bass – Jay Leonhart
Drums – Bill Stewart
Piano – Bill Charlap

The vast Duke Ellington songbook is always ripe for exploration, and the New York Trio, featuring pianist Bill Charlap, bassist Jay Leonhart, and drummer Bill Stewart, is up to the task. The gorgeous ballad "The Star Crossed Lovers" is in good hands, as Charlap gently examines the facets of this gem, accompanied by Leonhart's spacious basslines and Stewart's whispering brushes. The brisk run through "Love You Madly" is transformed into an extended workout instead of the brief versions typically played by its composer. Charlap's bluesy gospel introduction to "I'm Just a Lucky So-and-So" will turn a few heads. Even though there's nothing new about tackling "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" at a racehorse tempo, this trio's intricate workout is a bit more abstract than most recordings. Charlap's jaunty treatment of "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" suggests its composer's stride piano roots. ---Ken Dryden, AllMusic Review

This bouquet of Ellingtonia is superb, but then you'd expect nothing less from this top-level trio. Bill Charlap, increasingly acknowledged as one of the best living pianists in jazz, has a unique touch; when he plays a ballad, as on "Sentimental Mood," he presses the keys so softly that the notes seem breathed, rather than struck. His swinging is crisp, his runs light and flawless, and he has a knack for finding the heart of a song – a talent shared by bassist Jay Leonhart, who conveys maximum meaning with his harmonic choices. Leonhart, also known for his droll songwriting, can convey this wry sensibility with his playing, especially with his sly use of the slide. Drummer Bill Stewart, whose profile isn't as high as the others (yet), does a fine and nuanced job throughout.

Highlights are hard to pick when a recording is this consistent, but I'd choose the aforementioned "Sentimental Mood," the very cool "C-Jam Blues," and the title track, with its swinging solos and trades and impish sense of fun. All told, a sparkling and stylish release. ---Dr. Judith Schlesinger, allaboutjazz.com

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1)Always
2)Cheek To Cheek
3)They Say It’s Wonderful				play
4)Got The Sun In The Morning
5.How Deep Is The Ocean
6.Change Partners
7)What’ll I Do
8.)Isn’t This A Lovely Day
9)The Song Is Ended
10)Russian Lullaby						play

Musicians:
Bill Charlap (piano);
Jay Leonhart (bass);
Bill Stewart (drums).

Does any jazz musician alive today (be it player or singer) share more devotedly and mine with deeper conviction that widely-vaunted but too-often- dismissed-with-lip-service Great American Songbook than pianist Bill Charlap? This child of songwriter Moose and chanteuse Sandy Stewart was lovingly reared on the Tin Pan Alley and Broadway classics he so meticulously reimagines (usually romantically, occasionally puckishly, always honestly) on album after album. Thus Charlap's been recording beauty upon beauty with singular focus and unfailing swingability—abetted by terrific teammates—for a baker's dozen years; his '90s Criss Cross trio dates were goodie-laden grab-bags; Blue Note continued that tradition with Written In The Stars (gems by Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, et al.), before producer Joel Moss wisely let him dedicate entire albums to individual composer/craftsmen of the golden age of popular song such as Hoagy Carmichael (Stardust), Los Hermanos Gershwin (The American Soul) and Lenny Bernstein (Somewhere). --- allaboutjazz.com

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01.Blues In The Night
02.I Could Have Danced All Night
03.Blue Skies						play
04.You Better Go Now
05.My Funny Valentine
06.Tenderly
07.Embraceable You
08.Don’t Explain

Personnel:
Bill Charlap – piano
Jay Leonhart – bass
Bill Stewart – drums

In the dawn of the 21st century, pianist Bill Charlap took the jazz world by storm with a series of rewarding albums for labels both in the U.S. and abroad. On Blues in the Night, he leads his New York Trio in a recording made for the Japanese label Venus, with veteran bassist Jay Leonhart and fellow young gun Bill Stewart joining him. Right away Charlap signals that he can take an old chestnut into a new direction. His stretched-out, blues-drenched "Blues in the Night" makes effective use of space and showcases his sidemen as well. Leonhart's buoyant bassline brings to mind the late Milt Hinton in the brisk rendition of "I Could Have Danced All Night." Charlap's intense workout of "Blue Skies" is a virtual jazz history lesson, showing the influence of a number of legendary pianists, while achieving a sound distinctly his own. His loping, jaunty approach to "My Funny Valentine" is another winner; equally playful is the snappy waltz treatment of "Tenderly," accented by Stewart's brushwork. One of the most promising pianists of his generation, this Charlap CD is highly recommended.

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