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, where you might also catch him jamming on the Hammond organ or his Hohner accordion. 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, which makes for a good time had by all. “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 Swing 46 Jazz and 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 the Big Apple—The Milkman and Sons, the Blues Bangers, J Walter Hawkes, The Jack Grace Band, Bubble, Milton, Andrew Vladeck, David Kolker, Johanna Stahley, Jake Walker, Popa Chubby, and David Weinstone—playing everything from electric 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, 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.