Dear Listener, Welcome! I am very excited about this project because I get to share the bill with two of my favorite musicians, Bill Cunliffe and Jeff Hamilton. For over ten years I had the honor of sharing rhythm section duties with these fine gentlemen as part of the acclaimed Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. Over the years the fun and joy of music making only got better, and we got to know each other's styles of playing on an intimate level. Some years ago, Bill mentioned his interest in the Hammond B-3 organ and after a few initial performances the idea for this project began to germinate. It was hard to coordinate everyone in one city for rehearsals, however fax machines were always available for swapping tune ideas and arrangements back and forth. We decided that the bulk of the material should be our own compositions and added several standard tunes that we love to play on to the mix. After much calendar consultation we found a block of days where we would all be in Los Angeles at the same time. Rehearsals were short, easy and full of laughter. Bill and I came in with arrangements and tunes. Jeff immediately put his personal stamp on the project with a lot of great ideas and in no time at all we had fifteen tunes ready to go. We recorded this project in one day with all of us in one room for optimal listening and communication. Most of the tunes were done in one or two takes with no overdubbing or 'fixing.' There was little need to discuss the music. We simply played and let the interaction of the moment dictate the direction for us. After much listening and discussion of various takes over several months, we settled on what we felt were the best twelve tunes we had. Kudos goes to our good friend Maurice Gainen for his great ears and fantastic work in the mastering process. He truly brought the sound quality up to an outstanding level. Bill Cunliffe's mastery of the organ is apparent from the very first note and Jeff Hamilton proves yet again why he is one of the most sought after drummers working today. Rather than talk about the music itself, I'll simply invite you to take a listen and join us on our journey through this set. Thank you for visiting, Jim Hershman.

Bill Plays Bud

The Billy Collins Suite comprises intimate chamber settings for eleven Collins poems, some sung, others narrated. (Cedille)

Classical Music

'Bill Cunliffe is one of the great players of the day.' the BBC Review 'Bill's 'Rare Connection' is a masterpiece. Five stars.' Atlanta Jazz Journal 'Best jazz piano since Oscar Peterson' Wellington NZ Evening Post 'A world class artist with a distinct voice of his own.' Los Angeles Times Grammy and Emmy nominated composer, arranger and jazz pianist Bill Cunliffe is gathering nationwide attention with his innovative and swinging recordings and compositions He first fell under the influence of jazz by studying at Duke University with the great 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 Warranger with the Buddy Rich Big Band, and working with Frank Sinatra. He then played and toured with many legends of jazz, including Ray Brown, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Benny Golson, and James Moody. He currently works with his own trio, and sextet, the Clayton Brothers Quintet, trumpeter Terell Stafford, and flutist Holly Hofmann. Bill was the 1989 winner of the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Competition, and has received stipends from the National Endowment for the Arts. His three albums for @R Warner/Discovery Records all charted in nationwide jazz polls. His book 'Jazz Keyboard Toolbox, ' published by Alfred Publications, is fast becoming a standard reference book in jazz, and he is now doing a DVD on beginning jazz piano for Alfred. His big band compositions are published by Kendor Music, and the University of Northern Colorado Jazz Press and his choral music by Santa Barbara Music Press. Bill is a Baldwin Pianos artist, and was Marian McPartland's guest on her famed 'Piano Jazz' radio show in 1998. 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 THenry 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, chamber groups, and choir. He has writen extensively for television, and his music was recently heard in the Mirimax feature 'Comic Book-The Movie' and the Susan Sarandon movie, 'The Banger Sisters.' He is currently composer in residence at All Saints Episcopal Church, in Pasadena, California, teaches jazz piano at the University of Southern California, and directs combos at the Henry Mancini Institute. Among Bill's latest projects include 'Live at Bernies' a trio project with Brad Mehldau bassist Darek Oles and former Bill Evans drummer Joe La Barbera, and his well-regarded sextet has just released their second album, 'How My Heart Sings' (The Music of Earl ''Zindars) for Torii Records.