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Bill Cessna is a jazz pianist and multi-instrumentalist dedicated to creating musical experiences that honor the legacy of jazz and the art of improvisation. His mission is to preserve, celebrate, and expand the jazz tradition through performance, composition, and education.

He began his formal jazz studies on scholarship at Columbia College Chicago in 2009, where he studied under local musicians including Peter Saxe, Dennis Luxion, Donald Neale, and Sebastian Huydts. After graduating in 2013, Bill quickly became a sought-after sideman in Chicago’s dynamic music scene. He has performed with salsa bands, jazz ensembles, and his own trio at venues such as The Jazz Showcase, The Green Mill, Andy’s Jazz Club, PianoForte, Winter’s Jazz Club, Merriman’s Playhouse, Cliff Bell’s, and The Jazz Estate.

His festival appearances include The Chicago Jazz Festival, Hyde Park Jazz Festival, South Shore Jazz Festival, New Trier Jazz Festival, Elmhurst Jazz Festival, Elkhart Jazz Festival, and a featured performance at The Gilmore Piano Festival with his trio in 2022.
Bill has also toured internationally with the Roy McGrath Quintet, performing and leading educational clinics throughout Asia in 2017 and 2019. As part of these tours, the group taught jazz history and improvisation at Harrow and Dulwich International Schools, and performed at notable venues and festivals including The Blue Note Beijing, JC Jazz Club, Dusk Dawn Club, and B52 in Singapore.

In 2022, Bill earned his Master’s degree in Jazz Piano from Western Michigan University. He now maintains a full performance schedule across Chicago and Detroit, while continuing to teach students of all ages in his growing private piano studio.
Bill leads the Bill Cessna Trio, a group that blends original compositions with reinterpretations of the music and musicians who inspire them. Their debut album Background Music was released in 2022, followed by Billy Boy in 2024, featuring all original compositions. In addition to his trio work, Bill has released a variety of self-produced EPs exploring more eclectic sounds and continues to collaborate with artists across genres.

“The best compliment I can receive is when someone tells me they don’t listen to jazz—but enjoyed hearing us play.”