Written In The Stars

It would be easy--too easy, in fact--to compare pianist Bill Charlap to the great Bill Evans. Easy because Charlap has the same kind of knack for spacious lyricism and impressionistic chordal harmonies that characterize the late jazz icon, and his interplay on Written in the Stars with his amazing rhythm team of bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington recalls Evans's telepathic improvisation with Paul Motian and Scot LaFaro. Charlap treats the classic American songbook the way few young pianists treat it. Charlap, 33 years old as Stars comes to market, plays classics like "In the Still of the Night," "On a Slow Boat to China," and "Blue Skies" with such deep affinity that it's hard to believe he wasn't sitting right there when these tunes were written. His take on "Blue Skies" starts with a gorgeous rubato version of the tune's seldom-heard verse, weaves contrapuntal harmonies over the tune's chorus, and features some dazzling interplay between Charlap and bassist Washington--a recurring phenomenon, as the trio's members show remarkable empathy with each other on every track. In an age with no shortage of promising young pianists, Blue Note must have felt there was something special about Bill Charlap. One listen to Written in the Stars assures us that they made the right call. --Ezra Gale