Bill Cunliffe


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Grammy nominated composer, arranger and jazz pianist. He first fell under the influence of jazz by studying at Duke University with pianist Mary Lou Williams. He received his masters from the Eastman School of Music, and won several Down Beat Awards for his big band and orchestral pieces.

After teaching at Central State University, in Wilberforce, Ohio, he toured as pianist and arranger with the Buddy Rich Big Band, and working with Frank Sinatra. He then

Played and toured with many jazz musicians, including Ray Brown, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Benny Golson, James Moody, and Joshua Redman. Currently, he plays with his own trio, his group Imaginacion, and duets with jazz flutist Holly Hofmann, with whom he has recorded five CD's.
Bill was the 1989 winner of the $10,000 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Award, and has received stipends from the National Endowment for the Arts. His three albums for Warner/Discovery Records all charted in nationwide jazz polls. His books “Jazz Keyboard Toolbox, “ and “Jazz Piano Inventions” published by Alfred Publications, are fast becoming standard reference books in jazz, and his big band compositions are published by Kendor Music, and the University of Northern Colorado Jazz Press. His choral music is published by Santa Barbera Music Publishers. Bill is a Baldwin Pianos artist, and was Marian McPartland's guest on her famed “Piano Jazz” radio show in June '98.

As a composer and arranger, Bill has been performed by many orchestras, including the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, the Illinois Philharmonic, the Reading (PA) Symphony, and the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra . Among his works are a three movement “Romantic” Fantasy for piano and orchestra, a festive overture, “Viva Mexico,” and numerous works for big band, orchestra, and choir. Recently, the Rodger Fox Big Band of New Zealand released a CD of Bill's jazz orchestra compositions. He is currently composer in residence at All Saints Episcopal Church, in Pasadena, California, and Assistant Professor of Music at the Esther Boyer College of Music and Dance, at Temple University.

On the classical side, he performs his own arrangement of Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” with orchestras, and performs with his group Trimotif, which he co leads with oboist Phoebe Ray, and featuring David Shostac on flute, often featuring his own works.

ALBUMS


The Temple University Studio Orchestra, Billy Childs, Banks Sapnar, Bill Cunliffe
Labyrinth
2024, File, WAV, BCM+D Records,
Cunliffe* - Wind* - Horner*
Border Widow's Lament
2023, 9xFile, FLAC, Album, NIght Is Alive Records, ,
Contemporary Jazz/Post Bop
John Patitucci, Vinnie Colaiuta, Bill Cunliffe
Trio
2021, ,
Post Bop
Hendrik Meurkens, Bill Cunliffe
Cabin In The Sky
2018, CD, Album, Height Advantage, ,
Bossa Nova
Bill Cunliffe
BACHanalia
2017, CD, Album, Metro Records (32), ,
Big Band/Post Bop/Vocal
Bill Cunliffe
Nostalgia in Corcovado
2013, CD, BCM+D Records
Mort Weiss Meets Bill Cunliffe With Special Guest The Undisputed Father Of The Jazz Flute Sam Most
Mort Weiss Meets Bill Cunliffe
2011, CD, Album, SMS Jazz
Bill Cunliffe, Jim Self, The Hollywood Ensemble
Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra
2011, CD, Album, Metro Records (32)
Temple University Symphony Orchestra*, Luis Biava ; Terell Stafford / Bill Cunliffe
Fourth Stream...La Banda
2010, CD, BCM+D Records
Holly Hofmann, Bill Cunliffe
Three's Company
2010, CD, Album, Capri Records (6),
Curt Ramm, Dan Moretti, Bill Cunliffe With Marty Ballou & Marty Richards
Foundations
2009, CD, Album, Foundations Jazz Records
Bill Cunliffe
The Blues And The Abstract Truth, Take 2
2008, CD, Album, Resonance Records,
Bill Cunliffe
Imaginación
2005, CD, Album, Torii Records,
Jim Hershman, Bill Cunliffe, Jeff Hamilton
Partners in Crime
2005, CD, Album, Azica,
Nicole Dillenberg with Bill Cunliffe
Just Like Heaven
2005, CD, Cloverland (2),
Holly Hofmann, Bill Cunliffe
Just Duet Vol. 2
2003, CD, Album, Azica
The Rodger Fox Big Band with Bill Cunliffe
Warriors
2001, CD, Album, T~bone Records
Bill Cunliffe, Jeffrey Schindler
"Viva Mexico" "Romantic Fantasy"
1999, CD, Bill Cunliffe Music
Holly Hofmann And Bill Cunliffe
Just Duet
1998, CD, Album, Azica
Bill Cunliffe
Satisfaction
1998, CD, Album, Azica
Bill Cunliffe
Bill Plays Bud
1998
Bill Cunliffe
Bill In Brazil
1995, CD, Album, Discovery Records, ,
Latin Jazz
Bill Cunliffe
A Rare Connection
1994, CD, Album, Discovery Records
Bill Cunliffe & Friends*
A Paul Simon Songbook
1993, CD, Album, Discovery Records
Melissa Sweeney With Bill Cunliffe
Melissa With Bill Cunliffe
CD, Album, Promo, Eumenides Entertainment
Bill Cunliffe Trio
Christmas In The Doghouse
2019, CD, Album, Not On Label (Bill Cunliffe Trio Self-released)
Maggie Herron
A Ton Of Trouble
2018, CD, Album, Herron Song Records
Maggie Herron
Between The Music & The Moon
2016, CD, Album, Not On Label
Freda Payne
Come Back To Me Love
2014
Bill Cunliffe Trio
River Edge, New Jersey
2013, CD, Album, Azica
Hiroko Williams
A Time For Ballads
2012, CD, Album, Berkeley Square Music
John Proulx
The Best Thing For You
2012, CD, Album, MAXJAZZ Vocal Piano Series
Rob Lockart
Parallel Lives
2007, CD, Album, Origin Records, ,
Post Bop/Contemporary Jazz
Tomo
I'll Always Know
2006, CD, Album, Torii Records
Larry Koonse, Joe LaBarbera, Tom Warrington, Clay Jenkins
Snowfall: A Jazz Compass Christmas Celebration
2004, CD, Album, Jazz Compass
The Bill Cunliffe Sextet
How My Heart Sings (The Music Of Earl Zindars)
2003, CD, Torii Records
Bill Cunliffe Sextet*
Live At Rocco
2002, CD, Azica,
Kathy Wade
You Got The Magic
2001, CD, Album, Daka Music
'Bout Time
'Bout Time
1983, LP, Mark Records
Jackie Allen
Which?
1999, CD, Album, Naxos Jazz, ,
Vocal
Porcupine
Porcupine
1991, ,
Fusion/Smooth Jazz
Dan St. Marseille Quintet
Invitation
2016, CD, Album, Resurgent Music
The Rafael Jerjen Concept
Soul Station Return
2015
Joe & Pat LaBarbera Quartet
The Little Drummer Boy
2011, CD, Album, Five Stars Records
Martin Wind Quartet
Get It?
2010, CD, Album, Laika Records, ,
Bop
Martin Wind Quartet
Salt 'N Pepper!
2008, CD, Album, Challenge Records (3), ,
Bop/Post Bop
John Altman Quartet
You Started Something
2004, CD, Album, Bronze
The Joe La Barbera Quintet
Mark Time
2003, CD, Album, Jazz Compass
The Joe La Barbera Quintet
Live!
2001, CD, Album, Jazz Compass
The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
Shout Me Out!
2000, CD, Album, Fable Records (5), ,
Big Band
The Holly Hofmann Quartet
Live At Birdland
2000, CD, Album, Azica
Doc Severinsen And His Big Band
Swingin' The Blues
1999, CD, Album, Azica, ,
Big Band/Swing/Modal/Dixieland
Jazz At The Movies Band
Sax on Broadway
1997, HDCD, Album, Discovery Records
Jazz At The Movies Band
One From The Heart, Sax At The Movies II
1995,
Jazz At The Movies Band
White Heat: Film Noir
1994, ,
Contemporary Jazz/Theme
Jazz at the Movies Band
Body Heat
1993, CD,
Porcupine
Look, But Don't Touch
1993
The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra
Heart And Soul
1991, CD, Capri Records (6), ,
Big Band
Porcupine
Porcupine
1989

APPEARANCES +


Bill Cunliffe
Rainforests
2023, File, WAV, BCM+D Records
Michael Dease
Found In Space (The Music Of Gregg Hill)
2024, CD, Album, Origin Records
Michael Dease
Grove's Groove
2024, CD, Album, Le Coq Records (2)
Michael Dease
Swing Low
2023, CD, Album, Posi-Tone
Bob McChesney
Come Sunday
2023, CD, Album, MoCo Records,
Joe La Barbera Quintet*
World Travelers
2023, LP, Album, Ltd, 180, Sam First Records
Doug MacDonald And The L.A. All-Star Octet
Overtones
2022, CD, Album, dmac music, ,
Bop/Swing
Lyn Stanley With Her Big Band Jazz Mavericks
Novel Noël (A Jingle Cool Jazz Celebration)
2022
Temple University Jazz Band, Terell Stafford Featuring Christian McBride And Joey DeFrancesco
Without You No Me (Honoring The Legacy Of Jimmy Heath)
2021, CD, Album, BCM+D Records, ,
Bop/Big Band
Massimo Faraò Trio, Accademia Arrigoni's Strings Orchestra*
Like An Elegant Wine
2020, LP, Venus Records (5)
Buddy Rich
Just In Time (The Final Recording)
2019, ,
Big Band/Vocal
Jon Mayer Trio
Live At The Athenaeum
2018, CDr, Album, RM, BluePort Jazz
Buddy Rich
The Lost Tapes
2018
The BBB, Bernie Dresel
Bern Bern Bern
2018
Flying Horse Big Band Directed By Jeff Rupert Featuring Harry Allen
Big Man On Campus
2017, CD, Album, Flying Horse Records, ,
Big Band
Martin Wind
Light Blue
2017, CD, Album, Laika Records
Polly Gibbons
Is It Me...?
2017,
The Rodger Fox Big Band
X - The Rodger Fox Big Band Plays New Zealand
2016, CD, Album, Rattle Records, ,
Big Band
Todd Coolman & Trifecta*
Collectables
2016, CD, Album, Sunnyside
The BBB Featuring Bernie Dresel
Live N' Bernin'
2016, ,
Big Band
Michael Bublé
Nobody But Me
2016, CD, ,
Easy Listening
Criss Cross
Live At The Red Sea
2015, CD, Album, K2B2 Records
Lyn Stanley
Interludes
2015, ,
Contemporary Jazz
Lyn Stanley
Potions [From The 50's]
2014, ,
Contemporary Jazz
John La Barbera Big Band Featuring Pat La Barbera*, Joe La Barbera*, Clay Jenkins
Caravan
2013, CD, Jazz Compass
The Ali Ryerson Jazz Flute Big Band
Game Changer
2013, CD, Capri Records (6)
Ron Boustead
Mosaic
2013, CD, Album, Art-Rock Music, ,
Fusion
The Roger Fox Wellington Jazz Orchestra*
The Capitol Sessions
2013, CD, Album, Independent Artists (4), ,
Big Band
Martin Wind Quartet Featuring Orchestra Filarmonica Marchigiana
Turn Out The Stars - Music Written By Or Inspired By Bill Evans
2013, ,
Post Bop/Cool Jazz
Mark Masters Ensemble Featuring Gary Smulyan
American Jazz Institute Presents Ellington Saxophone Encounters
2012, CD, Album, Capri Records (6), ,
Swing/Big Band
Mark Sherman
The L.A. Sessions
2012, CD, Album, Miles High Records
Greg Abate
'Live' In Monterey (Wave Street Sessions)
2010, CD, Album, Wave Street Studios
Andreas Öberg
Six String Evolution
2010, CD,
Resonance Big Band
Plays Tribute To Oscar Peterson
2009, CD, Album + DVD-V, Resonance Records, Resonance Records, ,
Big Band
Lamb & Meyer
Don't Get No Better
2009, CD, Album, Bluehour Records, ,
Contemporary Jazz
Jackie Allen (2) With The Muncie Symphony Orchestra
Starry Night
2009, CD, Dig, Avant Bass
Le Grand Orchestre Latin Jazz Aquitain
2009
2009, CD, Mécénat Musical Société Cap Ingelec, ,
Big Band/Salsa
California State University Sacramento Latin Jazz Ensemble
Havana
2008, CD, Album, Not On Label, ,
Latin Jazz
ALO Big Band
Jazz, Funk, Salsa, ...
2007, CD, EP, Not On Label (ALO Big Band Self-released)
Lauren White
At Last
2007
Eric Miyashiro
Times Square (Live At STB139)
2006, CD, Multichannel, Sup, Village Records (2), ,
Big Band
Phil Kelly & The SW Santa Ana Winds
My Museum
2006, CD, Album, Origin Records, ,
Big Band
John La Barbera Big Band Featuring Pat La Barbera* With Joe La Barbera* And Clay Jenkins
Fantazm
2005, CD, Album, Jazz Compass, ,
Big Band
Mark Fontana
Once I Loved
2005, CD, Album, Astrolux Records, ,
Vocal
Kate and Kacey Coppola
Circle Around
2005, CD, Album, Not On Label, ,
Country
Tomo
Tomo (The Music Of Reed Kotler)
2004, CD, Album, Torii Records
Various
Voices Of Concord Jazz - Live At Montreux
2004
Jacintha
The Girl From Bossa Nova
2004, ,
Smooth Jazz/Bossa Nova
Eden Atwood
This Is Always - The Ballad Session
2004
John La Barbera Big Band With Guest Soloist Bud Shank Featuring Pat La Barbera*, Joe La Barbera*, Clay Jenkins
On The Wild Side
2003, CD, Album, Jazz Compass, ,
Big Band
Bill Cunliffe/Gary Foster Quartet
It's About Love
2003, CD, Album, Torii Records
Eric Miyashiro
City Of Brass
2003, CD, Album, Kick' Up, ,
Big Band
Erich Kunzel & Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
Film Music For Audiophiles
2003, CD, Comp, Audiophile Sound, Telarc Digital, ,
Theme/Score/Soundtrack/Special Effects
Buddy Rich And His Band*
The Lost Tapes
2003, DVD-V, Lightyear Entertainment
Jacintha
Jacintha Is Her Name
2003, SACD,
Marian McPartland
An NPR Jazz Christmas With Marian McPartland And Friends II
2002, HDCD, Album, NPR Classics
FORD Big Band Köln
Best Of Ford-Big-Band - Die Anderen Saiten Von Ford
2002, CD, Comp, Not On Label (Ford Big Band Self-released)
Various
Jazz 4 Lovers - Mellow Tunes For Private Hours
2002,
Eden Atwood
Waves: The Bossa Nova Session
2002
Bobby Shew, Gary Foster
Play The Music Of Reed Kotler
2001, 2xCD, Album, Torii Records,
Alan Kaplan
Lonely Town
2001, CD, Album, Rylan Records,
The Bill Cunliffe Trio*
Live At Bernie's
2001
Jacintha
Lush Life
2001, ,
Smooth Jazz
Terell Stafford
Fields Of Gold
2000, CD, Album, Nagel Heyer Records, ,
Bop/Swing
Erna Ferry ,with Rodger Fox Big Band*
Devil May Care
2000, CD, Album, T~bone Records
The Clayton Brothers
Siblingity
2000,
Holly Hofmann
Flutopia
1999, CD, Album, Azica
Dan Moretti
That's Right
1999, CD, Album, 1201 Music
Milt Jackson Meets The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra*
Explosive!
1999, CD, ,
Post Bop/Big Band
Gail Wynters
My Shining Hour
1998, CD, Album, Naxos Jazz, ,
Jazz-Funk/Contemporary Jazz/Swing/Latin Jazz
The Rodger Fox Big Band
Xtra Juicy
1998, CD, Album, T~bone Records
Gordon Brisker Quintet
The Gift
1997, CD, Album, Naxos Jazz
James Zollar
Soaring With Bird
1997, CD, Album, Naxos Jazz, ,
Bop
Sweet Baby J'ai
The Art Of Blue
1997, CD, Album, Sunset Music Group
The Buddy Rich Big Band*
Burning For Buddy - A Tribute To The Music Of Buddy Rich Volume II
1997, ,
Big Band
Thom Rotella
How My Heart Beats
1996, CD, Album, Positive Music, ,
Smooth Jazz
Donna Byrne
It Was Me
1996, CD, Album, Daring Records
Trio Supreme
Masquerade Is Over
1996
Larry Steen
First Move
1996, ,
Fusion/Latin Jazz
Holly Hofmann
Tales Of Hofmann
1995, CD, Album, Azica, ,
Bop
Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra*
Absolutely!
1994, CD, Lake Street Records, ,
Big Band
Julie Kelly
Stories To Tell
1994, CD, Album, Chase Music Group, ,
Bop/Post Bop/Contemporary Jazz
Bob Curnow's L. A. Big Band
The Music Of Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays
1994
Bruce Paulson
Minnesota
1993, CD, Album, Sea Breeze Jazz,
Clay Jenkins
Give And Gather
1993, CD, Album, Kazu Records
Paolo Nonnis Big Band '92
Step On The Gas
1992, CD, USA Music Group, USA Music Group, USA Music Group, ,
Big Band
The Clayton Brothers
The Music
1992, CD, Album, Capri Records (6), ,
Cool Jazz
Paolo Nonnis Big Band '91
Just In Time
1991, CD, USA Music Group, USA Music Group, ,
Big Band
George LaMond
Bad Of The Heart
1990, Vinyl, ,
Freestyle
Erich Kunzel, Cincinnati Pops Orchestra
Bond & Beyond
1990
Ernie Watts With Gamalon
Project: Activation Earth
1989
Various
A Slice of Life
1988, CD, WVXU-FM
Buddy Rich & His Band*
Mr. Drums: Buddy Rich & His Band Live On King Street, San Francisco
1986, ,
Big Band/Contemporary Jazz
Mr. Drums Buddy Rich And His Band*
Live On King Street, San Francisco - The "Channel One" Set
1985
Various
Jazziz - Winter 2024 - Piano
2024, 2xCD, Comp, Smplr, Jazziz
Various
Jazziz - Fall 2017 - Fall Into Jazz
2017, 2xCD, Comp, Smplr, Jazziz, ,
Contemporary Jazz
Various
С Новым Годом
2011, CD, Comp, Mixed, Promo, TSUM - Moscow
Various
Autumn Jazz Sampler 2010
2010, 12xFile, MP3, Smplr, 256, Resonance Records
Various
Percussion Direct
2008, 2x12", 180, Groove Note,
Various
True Audiophile - The Best Of Groove Note
2006, SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel, Comp, Groove Note,
Various
The Henry Mancini Institiute
2006, 2xCD, The Henry Mancini Institute, ,
Speech/Spoken Word/Classical/Cool Jazz
Various
Da Vida Bella (A Devotion To Jazz)
2005, 2xCD, Little David Productions,
Various
The SACD Stereo And Multichannel Demonstration Disc
2001, SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel, Comp, Groove Note
Various
Jazziz Magazine On-Disc - September 1997
1997, CD, Comp, Promo, Jazziz
Various
Jazz On CD No.12 - Visions Of The West Coast
1995, CD, Smplr, Jazz On CD, Mole Jazz
Various
1995: The Secret Behind Santa Sampler, Too!
1995, CD, Comp, Promo, Smplr, Baker & Taylor, ,
Holiday
Various
Unchain Your Mind - Discovery Fall 1995 Sampler
1995, HDCD, Comp, Promo, Discovery Records
Various
Always The Music - Discovery Records Autumn 1993 Releases
1993, CD, Comp, Promo, Discovery Records,
Michael Bublé
Nobody But Me
2016, ,
Vocal
Andreas Öberg
Six String Evolution
2010, CD, ,
Fusion/Contemporary Jazz
John Patitucci, Vinnie Colaiuta, Bill Cunliffe
Trio
,
Post Bop