Spellbound:
Two Pianos in Jazz Conversations about Love
Renee Rosness and Bill Charlap at the 92NY Gala at where “Spellbound” was premered
At 92NY’s 2025 Gala, Grammy winner Bill Charlap was celebrated for his 18 years as Artistic Director of New York City’s Jazz in July Festival. Before he received the honor, his wife, internationally celebrated pianist Renee Rosnes, came forward to perform the world premiere of a piece that 92NY had commissioned her to compose as a surprise for him. The composition, “Spellbound” was not only inspired by the magic of Bill Charlap’s exquisite playing but also made reference to his childhood hobby as a magician.
“Bill’s playing always leaves me spellbound,” said Renee, recalling the story at Tahoe Music Alive’s informal pre-concert seminar, Musical Conversations, before the two of them played a sold-out duo concert at Granlibakken Resort.
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“Renee’s a tremendously gifted composer,” said Bill. “She has perfect pitch, she’s inventive, and she’s an original, who has built upon her extensive experiences playing with such jazz giants as Joe Henderson, Wayne Shorter, JJ Johnson, James Moody, Bobby Hutcherson, and with bassist Ron Carter’s Foursight Quartet.” During The Jazz Cruise 2025 sailing in February, Renee Rosnes & Bill Charlap were both inducted into the Jazz Cruise Hall of Fame by co-hosts Emmet Cohen and Christian McBride. Bill and Renee agree that playing together requires both head and heart. “In jazz, as in life, it’s important to be in the present,” said Bill, “ready to forget what has come before and let go of what you thought might be coming, to listen and respond in seconds to your partner, as you co-create.”
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Trained initially as a classical pianist, Renee fell in love with jazz during high school, mentored by a passionate and knowledgeable band director. After moving from Vancouver to New York in the late 80’s, she quickly established a reputation of high regard. She has recorded 18 albums as a leader, and her latest is “Crossing Paths” (Smoke Sessions), which is focused on her love of Brazilian music. She also founded and leads the award winning ensemble Artemis, which has been recognized for two years in a row by Downbeat magazine’s Reader’s Poll as “Jazz Group of the Year.”
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Echoing claims made by Steven Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein about the contexts for their creativity, Renee spoke about a special state, a sort of trance, teetering on the edge of sleep, where she finds a creative zone. As Bobby Hutcherson once remarked about his theory of improvising, “I always wait for the next note to reveal itself.” In discussing the art of composition, Renee explained, “The music itself tells me when a piece is complete. For me, composing requires solitude and I believe the nature of Tahoe would be a perfect setting to pull a new melody out of the air.”
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Son of Moose Charlap, composer of the score for the Mary Martin Broadway theatrical production of Peter Pan and many other well-known songs, and Sandy Stewart, a Grammy-nominated vocalist, Bill Charlap grew up surrounded by artistic skill, imagination, and a show business culture. He is revered by such collaborators as Wynton Marsalis, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Phil Woods, Houston Person and Ron Carter. He is acclaimed for his interpretations of the American Popular Songbook and has made many albums featuring the music of Hoagy Carmichael, Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, and Duke Ellington. He received a Grammy in 2016 for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for his collaboration with Tony Bennett on the album, “The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern,” which also included four two-piano tracks with Renee. Over the years, Bill has produced concerts at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Chicago Symphony Center, and the Hollywood Bowl. He is currently Director of Jazz Studies at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey.
On August 17, 2025, the couple played a 90-minute set in a sold-out Tahoe Music Alive concert at Granlibakken Resort. Appropriately, they focused on songs about love, including “Just in Time,” “My Funny Valentine,” “Spring Is Here,” “Never Will I Marry,” “The Last Time I Saw Paris,” “In Your Own Sweet Way,” and Renee’s “Spellbound.” Their encore closed the performance with Duke Ellington’s classic, “In A Sentimental Mood.” The two-piano musical conversations left the audience spellbound indeed.
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Tahoe Music Alive, now in its third season, has a stated mission to bring world-class listening experiences and musical inspiration in chamber music and jazz to the greater North Tahoe area—and they are succeeding. For information about this vibrant group and its upcoming concerts this season, visit Tahoemusicalive.org.