About

Bill Malchow is a pianist and vocalist who plays New Orleans-influenced blues, jazz, funk and R&B at clubs and festivals in New York City and New Orleans. Whether performing solo or as the Bill Malchow Trio, or with his larger band, the Go Cup All Stars, Bill’s shows are fun. He mixes originals, standards and New Orleans classics with improvisation, great storytelling and a wicked sense of humor. “I’m a musician that honors the past while hoping to contribute to its forward progression. I like there to be a bit of honesty, energy and humor in my shows.”

Peter Aaron of Chronogram Magazine probably sums up Bill best: “Bill Malchow divides his time between the Big Apple and the Big Easy—which sounds about right, since his percolating, second-line style bubbles and boils with Fats Waller-style Harlem stride and the steaming New Orleans sounds of Dr. John, James Booker, Allen Toussaint, and Professor Longhair.”

As a young kid in Connecticut, Bill started sounding out pop tunes on the family piano. His mother soon signed him up for classical lessons. His grandfather, an avid swing dancer, was constantly playing Louis Armstrong, Louis Prima and big band records and tapes. Bill made a copy of one of his Louis Armstrong tapes and wore it out, absorbing the songs. Later he was gifted “The Dr. John Anthology” and was hooked. “His cool voice, command of the piano and unique style was super impressive.”

Dr. John was Bill’s gateway into the New Orleans music world, a mixture of traditional jazz, blues and R&B. He dug it so he dug deeper, discovering two other masters of the piano, James Booker and Fats Waller, from New Orleans and New York respectively. “Fats’ music operates at such a high level, the songwriting and virtuosic stride piano, yet he still manages to entertain everyone.”

In New York, you’ll often find Bill Malchow leading bands at St Mazie Supper Club. You can also catch him playing solo or with friends at Sunny’s Bar, Skinny Dennis, Fine and Rare, and Mona’s East Village. Over the years, he has backed up several talented songwriters and bands in NYC—Dayna Kurtz, J Walter Hawkes, The Milkman and Sons, Elizabeth Bougerol, The Jack Grace Band, Bubble, Milton, Andrew Vladeck, the Blues Bangers, David Kolker, Johanna Stahley, Jake Walker, Popa Chubby, and David Weinstone—playing everything from jazz, country, folk to rock.

Bill has played the most iconic clubs and festivals in New Orleans, including Tipitina’s, Preservation Hall, Maple Leaf Bar, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and French Quarter Fest. As a highly respected sideman he has performed with Rory Danger and the Danger Dangers, Alex McMurray, Aurora Nealand and the Royal Roses, Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes, Lulu and the Broadsides, Tommy Malone of the Subdudes, Shannon McNally, King James and the Special Men, Dave Jordan, Paul Sanchez, and Antoine Diel among others. He even had the honor to work with Dr. John on two occasions, with Dr. John playing piano and Bill playing the organ in the house band.

In 2017, Bill received a Master of Music in Jazz Studies and a second in Classical Composition both from the University of New Orleans.  

Short Version

Pianist, vocalist and bandleader Bill Malchow brings the musical traditions of New York and New Orleans together in a mix of jazz, blues and R&B. Equally comfortable digging into a James Booker-inspired piano groove, striding through a Fats Waller tune or leading his quartet through a funk-a-fied take on the Beatles’ “Drive My Car,” Bill combines a deep appreciation for the music's history with his own improvisational style, storytelling and irreverent sense of humor.

Having called both New York City and New Orleans home, Bill has performed everywhere from neighborhood institutions like the Maple Leaf Bar and Sunny's Bar to celebrated venues including Joe's Pub, Tipitina's and Preservation Hall. His appearances also include the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, French Quarter Festival and the Brooklyn Academy of Music's 1:1 Concerts. He has shared the stage twice with Dr. John, and works with an eclectic cast of musicians including singer-songwriter and longtime collaborator Alex McMurray and the enigmatic Rory Danger and the Danger Dangers.