Bill Cunliffe
Grammy Award-winning pianist, composer, and arranger Bill Cunliffe is multifaceted musician known for his innovative approach to jazz, from intricate solo work to lush big band compositions, and his unique ability to create exciting legendary straight ahead jazz performances. A graduate of Duke University and the Eastman School of Music, and the winner of the prestigious Thelonious Monk International Piano Competition, Cunliffe continues to perform globally as a leader and a soloist with symphony orchestras.
Cunliffe's recent recordings include the highly acclaimed trio album, "Trio" (2021_, featuring the legendary rhythm section of bassist John Patitucci and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta. In 2022, he also released the trio recording, Border Widows Lament, with his long-standing trio featuring bassist Martin Wind and drummer Tim Horner.
Some of Cunliffe' best known compositions include his three-part composition "Rainforest", and XX. His film scoring work continues to evolve, with his latest efforts including a film noir by Singaporean director Ying J. Tan, and a collaborative role in producing a jazz album for singer Freda Payne.
With a rich and varied career, Cunliffe has performed and toured with jazz icons such and James Moody, Freddie Hubbard, and Benny Golson, and with vocalists like Marlena Shaw, Mark Murphy, and Natalie Cole. His work with the Clayton Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and the Clayton Brothers Quintet further cemented his reputation as a first-call collaborator in the jazz world.
A celebrated arranger and composer, he was awarded a Grammy for Best Intrumental Arrangement for "West Side Story Medley" from the album "Resonance Big Band Plays Tribute to Orcar Peterson". He has also earned multiple other Grammy Nominations, including for his works "Overture", "Waltz" and "Rondo" and the film score for the award-winning documentary "On the Shoulders of Giants", Produced by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Beyond the stage, Bill Cunliffe is a dedicated educator, sharing his expertise at institutions like Cal State Fullerton, the Skidmore Jazz Institute, and the Vail Jazz Workshop, as well as being a former proffessor at Central State University and Temple University. He is also known for his highly regarded jazz keyboard educational book series, which has become a standard set for aspiring jazz musicians.