Bill Cessna is a jazz pianist and multi-instrumentalist committed to creating musical experiences that honor the jazz tradition and showcase the art of improvisation. A scholarship student at Columbia College Chicago beginning in 2009, he studied with Peter Saxe, Dennis Luxion, Donald Neale, and Sebastian Huydts before quickly becoming an in-demand sideman in Chicago’s vibrant music scene. He has performed at major venues including The Jazz Showcase, The Green Mill, Andy’s Jazz Club, Winter’s Jazz Club, Cliff Bell’s, and The Jazz Estate.
His festival credits include the Chicago Jazz Festival, Hyde Park Jazz Festival, Elmhurst Jazz Festival, Elkhart Jazz Festival, South Shore Jazz Festival, and a 2022 featured appearance at The Gilmore Piano Festival with his trio. Internationally, Bill toured Asia with the Roy McGrath Quintet in 2017 and 2019, performing and leading educational clinics at Harrow and Dulwich International Schools and appearing at The Blue Note Beijing, JC Jazz Club, Dusk Dawn Club, and B52 in Singapore.
In 2022, Bill completed his Master’s degree in Jazz Piano from Western Michigan University studying with Matthew Fries. He now performs extensively throughout the Midwest as a sideman and band leader. He leads the Bill Cessna Trio — releasing Background Music (2022) and Billy Boy (2024) — and continues to collaborate across genres. In recent years, Bill has also launched multiple new projects exploring electronic and vocal music alongside his jazz work.
“The best compliment I can receive is when someone tells me they don’t listen to jazz—but enjoyed hearing us play.”
Bill Cessna 