Pianist Charles Craig

Charles "JP" Craig, a seasoned jazz pianist, grew up in Chicago. Charles served with his father Rev. Dr. Lawrence L. Craig, Sr. at Carter Temple C.M.E Church in Chicago, IL. Charles was mentored by the legendary Grammy Winning Ramsey Lewis, an innovative artist who taught him the importance of playing with dynamic versatility. Charles honed in on his skills early performing alongside Ramsey Lewis's sons, Bobby Lewis and Frayne Lewis, known in the midwest as the Brothers Lewis Trio, gaining invaluable experience on the Chicago Jazz scene. The Late Great Mulgrew Miller also mentored Charles in hard bop during his stint at The Jazz Showcase formerly at the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago, shaping Charles's musical foundation. This foundation led to Charles branching out into the Smooth Jazz sector where he helped forge the sound and soul of Chicago Saxophonist Art Porter solidifying Art's recording contract with Verve Forecast/PolyGram Records.

Charles refined his craft at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where his piano teacher, Donald Brown, deepened his knowledge of jazz theory, soloing techniques, and song form, inspiring him to create and record original compositions and arrangements. While in Boston, MA, Charles joined forces with Saxophonist Andre Ward and blazed a jazz sound across some of Boston's well know historic jazz spots namely Wally's Cafe, The Hilton Lounge, The Berklee Performance Center, Scullers Jazz Club, and Regattabar at The Charles Hotel in Cambridge, MA.

Charles toured extensively with the Art Porter Band, Teodross Avery Quartet, Roy Hargrove Quintet, Arturo Sandoval Sextet, and the Christian McBride Quartet, performing across America, Europe, Canada, Cuba, South America, and Australia. Notable performances include: Jazz Festival in Bern, Switzerland, the Sydney Opera House, Jazz Jamboree in Warsaw, Poland, The Jazz Plaza Festival in Cuba where Charles debuted his composition ‘La Costa de La Cuba’ with Anga Diaz and Changuito which was the birth of the idea of Roy Hargrove’s Crisol, the Hague North Sea Jazz Festival, Jazz Baltica Timmendorfer Strand, Germany, Blue Note NYC, Village Vanguard, Madam Walker Legacy Center, Rose Theater Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center, Catalina's, and the Newport Jazz Festival. Charles performed extensively with Bassist Reuben Rogers while touring Rogers's own U.S. Virgin Islands.

In the 90's Charles signed on with Grusin Rosen Productions (GRP), and began working on his first solo album, produced by Joshua Redman. Charles recorded with Teodross Avery on In Other Words tracks 1 to 5 and 7 to 12, produced by Michael Cuscuna and featuring Roy Hargrove, and My Generation tracks 1, 5, 7, and 10, produced by Carl Griffin.

Charles recorded with Christian McBride on A Family Affair tracks 1 to 9, produced by George Duke and featuring Will Downing, Vesta, and The Late Great Russell Malone.

Throughout his career, Charles has collaborated with many jazz greats, including Grammy Winner The Late Great Roy Hargrove, Grammy Winner Christian McBride, Teodross Avery, Grammy Winner Arturo Sandoval, The Late Great Art Porter, Joshua Redman, Joe Henderson, Johnny Griffin, Steve Turre, Nicholas Payton, Vincent Gardner, Ali Jackson, Karriem Riggins, Gerald Cannon, Clark Terry, Wes Anderson, David Sanchez, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Delfeayo Marsalis, Sherman Irby, Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah(Christian Scott), and Grammy Winner Wynton Marsalis, among others. Charles has worked alongside many Jazz at Lincoln Center Artists and Musicians, notably Sherman Irby's Journey Through Swing and as a Jazz at Lincoln Center Consultant in Mesa, AZ and Coral Gables, FL at the CAP Summer Concert Series.

Charles performed with Delfeayo Marsalis in Cheraw, SC at the Cheraw Jazz Festival the birthplace of the Great and Legendary Dizzy Gillespie. One of Charles's most memorable moments was meeting The Late Great McCoy Tyner whose influence is still inspiring. Their meeting on the campus of Duke University remains a high point. Charles currently performs with his own bands, The Charles Craig Trio, The Charles Craig Quartet, The Charles Craig Quintet, and The Charles Craig Band performing music by Ramsey Lewis such as ‘The In Crowd’. Charles released his new single AC Groove a jazzy funk groove full of colorful textures and a smooth steady beat available on all streaming platforms. Charles Craig is owner of Charles Craig Arts And Education.