Washington 2022: Calluna Seattle – Trio with Clipper Anderson…

FRANCESCO CROSARA TRIO
March 16th, April 13th, May 18th
Calluna Seattle

Francesco Crosara Trio at Calluna – Photography by Lisa Hagen Glynn, Graphic design by Julia Crosara

Reservations recommended: callunaseattle.com

Pianist composer Francesco Crosara will appear in trio at Calluna Seattle, accompanied by bassist Clipper Anderson and drummer Mark Ivester for an all-acoustic trio performance.  Crosara will present original compositions and choice standards rearranged in his own lyrical and exuberant style.

Originally from Milan, Italy, Crosara’s music melds an impressive mix of jazz improvisation, a romantic vein from his classical training, along with Latin influences. Crosara who has performed with jazz greats such as Lionel Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove, Richie Cole, Ira Sullivan, Bobby Shew, Bruce Forman, Don Menza, Barbara Morrison, and many others, is now based in the Northwest since 2017, where he has collaborated with local stalwarts like Clipper Anderson, Mark Ivester, D’Vonne Lewis, Jeff Busch, Osama Afifi, Farko Dosumov, Cliff Colòn, and more.

After being featured for 2 years in a row in the trend-setting series “Earshot Jazz: The Second Century” for his bold and innovative music composition and video work, Crosara recently participated in the 2021 Earshot Jazz Festival, and appears at select venues around town in a variety of jazz styles, ranging from all acoustic with classical and Blues influences, to electric fusion melded with world music and a Latin imprint.

Crosara has produced 6 jazz albums internationally, most notably, “Colors” (through the Chicago-based Southport Records label) featuring the late great Von Freeman, and “Emotions” (through the TCB Montreux Swiss Jazz label) featuring Lilian Terry on vocals, Von Freeman on tenor sax, and a multi-cultural group of musicians from around the world.

Clipper Anderson is a bassist, composer, studio musician, performer, vocalist and educator. He plays at jazz festivals throughout the Unites States and Canada and has appeared on numerous recordings.  Clipper has worked with some of the biggest names in contemporary jazz including Michael Brecker, Arturo Sandoval and Buddy De Franco. Clipper is an annual guest artist at the Buddy DeFranco / University of Montana Jazz Festival and the Blaine Jazz Festival. He is currently on the jazz faculty at Pacific Lutheran University.

Mark Ivester is a versatile drummer and percussionist who is currently on the faculty at Pacific Lutheran University. Mark has performed with numerous jazz artists of international stature including Larry Coryell, Freddie Hubbard, Diane Schuur, Mose Allison, Charlie Byrd and Eartha Kitt. He has also performed with the Honolulu, Spokane and Walla Walla symphony orchestras. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Eastern Washington University and did undergraduate and graduate work in ethnomusicology at the University of Hawaii that included field study in gamelan music on the island of Java.

Washington 2021: Stage 7 Pianos – Trio with Clipper…

Francesco Crosara Trio
Saturday November 20, 7:00pm PDT
Stage 7 Pianos – Kirkland

Francesco Crosara photo by Julia Crosara.

Pianist composer Francesco Crosara will appear in trio at Stage 7 Pianos, accompanied by bassist Clipper Anderson and drummer Mark Ivester for an all-acoustic trio performance. Crosara will present original compositions and choice standards rearranged in his own style. Expect both lyrical and exuberant music.

Originally from Milan, Italy, Crosara’s music melds an impressive mix of jazz improvisation, a romantic vein from his classical training, along with Latin influences. Crosara who has performed with jazz greats such as Lionel Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove, Richie Cole, Ira Sullivan, Bobby Shew, Bruce Forman, Don Menza, Barbara Morrison, and many others, is now based in the Northwest since 2017, where he has collaborated with local stalwarts like Clipper Anderson, Mark Ivester, D’Vonne Lewis, Jeff Busch, Osama Afifi, Farko Dosumov, Cliff Colòn, and more.

After being featured for 2 years in a row in the trend-setting series “Earshot Jazz: The Second Century” for his bold and innovative music composition and video work, Crosara was also invited to participate in the 2021 Earshot Jazz Festival taking place in October at Town Hall in Seattle, and other venues around town.

Crosara has produced 6 jazz albums internationally, most notably, “Colors” (through the Chicago-based Southport Records label) featuring the late great Von Freeman, and “Emotions” (through the TCB Montreux Swiss Jazz label) featuring Lilian Terry on vocals, Von Freeman on tenor sax, and a multi-cultural group of musicians from around the world.

“Francesco, your music is wonderful – always has been. Play what you love and saturate the world with it.” Chick Corea

“A pianist who originally hails from Italy, Crosara is well-versed in bop lore, and his delicate flow might indicate a debt to Bill Evans.” Down Beat Magazine

“Crosara’s compositions are considerate of their audience, providing a source of joy, comfort, escape, and healing. Crosara believes jazz is a collective experience and a “living language” that distills a multitude of identities, backgrounds, and personalities.” Earshot Jazz

“Francesco Crosara […] has been in the Seattle area for about four years now and he really has a growing building exploding reputation in town working with some of our area’s finest musicians.” KNKX 88.5 FM

Photo credits: Julia Crosara

Washington 2021: First Sunday Concerts – Trio with Farko…

Francesco Crosara Trio
Sunday November 7, 4:00pm PDT
Bainbridge Waterfront Community Center

Francesco Crosara photo by Julia Crosara.

Francesco Crosara – piano
Farko Dosumov – bass
Mark Ivester – drums

Jazz pianist & composer Francesco Crosara returns to the First Sunday Concert series on November 7th with a dynamic new trio.

Originally from Milan, Italy, Crosaras music melds an impressive mix of jazz improvisation, a romantic vein from his classical training, along with Latin influences. Crosara who has performed with jazz greats such as Lionel Hampton, Roy Hargrove, and Ira Sullivan, is now based in the Northwest, and has collaborated with local stalwarts like Clipper Anderson, DVonne Lewis, Jeff Busch, Osama Afifi, and many others.

For his upcoming performance at the First Sunday Concerts series, Crosara’s ensemble will include two exceptional musicians: bassist Farko Dosumov, and drummer Mark Ivester. The trio will present a blend of original compositions by Crosara and jazz standards revisited. Expect both lyrical and exuberant music.

Photo credits: Julia Crosara

Washington 2021: Earshot Jazz Festival – Trio with Clipper…

Francesco Crosara Trio
Wednesday October 27, 7:00pm PDT
Town Hall Forum
In-person and livestream/VOD
Tickets $10–20

Francesco Crosara photo by Julia Crosara.

“Francesco, your music is wonderful— always has been. Play what you love and saturate the world with it.” –Chick Corea 

And that’s what pianist Francesco Crosara, the Seattle-based native of Milan, Italy, continues to do—saturate the world with his brand of “Francesco Jazz.” Drawing from an array of musical traditions and influences, including classical training, jazz standards, bop, fusion, Latin, world music and more—Crosara engages audiences with joy and healing spirit.

He stands among the European-bred jazz greats, performing over the years with the likes of Lionel Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove, Richie Cole, Lilian Terry, and more. His recordings have featured a multicultural and international array of musicians. And now, since 2017, the Northwest can claim his talents, too, as he’s demonstrated an eagerness to contribute to the local scene. 

Completing Crosara’s polished acoustic trio performing on October 27 are versatile Northwest Jazz virtuosos Clipper Anderson on bass and Mark Ivester on drums. Anderson and Ivester have both performed widely in varied styles and settings with impressive arrays of greats: Anderson with Michael Brecker, Paquito D’Rivera, and Arturo Sandoval; and Ivester with Larry Coryell, Freddie Hubbard, Diane Schuur, Mose Allison, Charlie Byrd, and Eartha Kitt. Crosara has been featured two years in a row in the trend-setting Earshot Jazz: The Second Century series for his bold and innovative music composition and video work. –Dennis Moran

Link to article in Earshot Jazz Magazine – October 2021

YouTube player
See the video: Circular Motion, Francesco Crosara Trio.

Photo credits: Lisa Hagen-Glynn, Julia Crosara

Washington 2021: Live at Boxley’s – Trio with Clipper…

Click on the video to view the entire concert. Broadcasted in livestream on June 25th, 2021.

YouTube player

Italian pianist Francesco Crosara debuts at Boxley’s joined by Clipper Anderson on bass and Mark Ivester on drums. The trio will present original compositions by Crosara, improvisations, and jazz standards revisited in a tribute to the art of piano trio music. Crosara has played at festivals and venues across the USA, Japan, Canada, Mexico, France, Spain, and Italy. He has performed with Lionel Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove, Richie Cole, Bobby Shew, Bruce Forman, and more. “A pianist who originally hails from Italy, Crosara is well-versed in bop lore, and his delicate flow might indicate a debt to Bill Evans.” Down Beat Magazine

Streaming Online At:
www.jazzclubsnw.org/youtube
www.jazzclubsnw.org/live
www.facebook.com/jazzclubsnw

This event was livestreamed from Boxley’s in North Bend, WA.

Photo credits: Julia Crosara

Washington 2021: Earshot Jazz at The Royal Room –…

Click on the video to play the full concert. Broadcasted in livestream on June 11th, 2021.

YouTube player

Originally from Milan, Italy, pianist and composer Francesco Crosara’s music melds an impressive mix of jazz improvisation, a romantic vein from his classical training, along with Latin influences. Crosara who has performed with jazz greats such as Lionel Hampton, Roy Hargrove, and Ira Sullivan, is now based in the Northwest, and has collaborated with local stalwarts like Mark Ivester, Jeff Busch, Osama Afifi, and many others.

For his June 11th trio performance with Earshot Jazz, Crosara’s ensemble included talented musicians—bassist Farko Dosumov, and drummer D’Vonne Lewis. Expect both lyrical and exuberant music.

This event was livestreamed from the Royal Room, Seattle.

Photo credits: Julia Crosara

Mexico 2020: Jazztival Michoacán – CREATING MUSIC – Piano…

Broadcasted on December 20, 2020
Click on the image to view the full video on Facebook

Morelia., Michoacán, a 20 de diciembre de 2020.– Con una serie de actividades que se podrán disfrutar desde la comodidad de los hogares, este 20 de diciembre concluirá la edición XVIII del Jazztival Michoacán, que en este 2020 se desarrolló durante los últimos 5 meses del año, ofreciendo conciertos, clases maestras, presentación de libros, talleres e intervenciones artísticas, tanto presenciales, como vía redes sociales.

El programa de cierre, que será totalmente virtual, contempla en primer término una Clase Maestra a cargo del Dr. Eduardo Núñez, Director de la Facultad de Bellas Artes de la Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, quien hablará sobre la Armonización en el piano de Jazz, a partir de la una de la tarde.

Más tarde, a las 3, toca su turno de participación al saxofonista mexicano Abraham Yacaman, quien ha sido músico integrante de grandes agrupaciones en diversos países, abarcando diferentes géneros entre los que destacan el reggae, pop, jazz, blues, folk, música electrónica, canción de autor, smooth y trova, entre otros.

Su versatilidad lo ha llevado a presentarse en distintos foros de países como Estados Unidos, Canadá, Perú, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Cuba, Francia, República Checa, Eslovaquia y, por supuesto, México.

Para las 5 de la tarde está prevista la participación del Neo Tango Trío, ensamble que reúne en su formación a los sanjuaninos Tito Oliva en piano y Nicolás Bustos en guitarra eléctrica, junto al bandoneonista bonaerense Esteban Calderón. Recientemente lanzó el single “Tangaucho” desde el que propone poner a sonar la “música actual del oeste argentino”.

La propuesta musical del terceto está basada en composiciones de Oliva y arreglos de tangos clásicos que se permiten dialogar tanto con el jazz como con el folclore.

“Tangaucho” es el primer registro formal del Neo Tango Trío que ha paseado su sonoridad por escenarios porteños y cuyanos, así como de México, Serbia e Italia.

Y para cerrar con broche de oro, a partir de las 7 de la noche se contará con la presentación del italiano Francesco Crosara, pianista, compositor y educador de jazz de Seattle que ha actuado en festivales y lugares de Estados Unidos, Japón, Canadá, México, Francia, España e Italia.

Maestro de la improvisación del jazz, el estilo de piano de Francesco mezcla una fuerte vena romántica de su formación clásica en el Conservatorio de Música de Santa Cecilia en Roma con una vivaz expresión lírica en el jazz y los idiomas latinos.

Crosara ha actuado con Lionel Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove, Richie Cole, Bobby Shew, Ira Sullivan, Don Menza, John Heard, Gabe Baltazar, Mayuto Correa, Bruce Forman, Barbara Morrison, Earl Palmer, Mark Lewis, Osama Afifi, Clipper Anderson, Mark Ivester, Jeff Busch, Milo Petersen, Steven Bentley y más.

Desde 1992, Francesco ha producido 6 álbumes de jazz internacionales que van desde el directo hasta la fusión y el latín. Los artistas invitados destacados incluyen a Von Freeman, Lilian Terry, Dave Marr, Rusty Jones, Paulinho García, Dean Taba, Noel Okimoto, Yasushi Gonjo, Larry Marshall, Miles Jackson, Eric Kurtz y más. Su álbum de 2000 “Colors” recibió 4 estrellas de la revista Downbeat.

Como dato curioso mencionaremos que la madre de Francesco, Lilian Terry, fue una de las vocalistas de jazz más importantes de Europa durante cuatro décadas.

En esta ocasión Crosara ha decidido hacer una especie de remembranza, a través de fotografías, de su primer visita a Morelia en 1983 y de su estrecha relación con el Jazztival Michoacán y con su director el maestro Juan Alzate, con quien al final del recital interpretará una pieza con la que se dará el cerrojazo al Jazztival 2020.

Respecto de los resultados obtenidos en esta ocasión por el Jazztival, Juan Alzate se dijo satisfecho, al señalar que a pesar de que fue una edición diferente, por las causas que todos conocemos, el festival continúa siendo un foro impulsor del jazz, y que gracias a que todas sus actividades se transmitieron vía internet, se alcanzó una cifra record de 1´283,556 vistas.

De igual forma agradeció el apoyo de las Secretarías de Cultura y Turismo del Estado, de la Secretaría de Cultura de Morelia, del Instituto de la Juventud Morelia, del H. Ayuntamiento de Tlalpujahua y de UNAM Centro Cultural Morelia.

Cabe recordar que todas las actividades de la última jornada del Jazztival 2020, programadas para el 20 de diciembre, podrán disfrutarse en su modalidad virtual a través de la página https://jazztivalmichoacan.org
Calzada La Huerta 913. Col. Los Girasoles. Morelia, 58049. Morelia, Michoacán Tels. 4434101980, 4433692440, 6621027546 y 4434532785. www.jazztivalmichoacan.org jazztivalmichoacan.@gmail.com

Washington 2020: Earshot Jazz Festival – Music Video “Preludio…

Broadcasted on October 21st, 2020.

See the video at 26:02: Preludio Flamenco, Francesco Crosara Quintet, with abstract art by Julia Crosara.

The Jazz: The Second Century series has always been about exploring the fundamental question: “One-hundred years into the art-form, what sonic shape does jazz take in its second century?” This question has never felt more relevant—or urgent—during these times of physical distancing, where musicians are being forced to explore new and innovative ways to develop and present their art. 2020 marks the first time the series is presented as part of the Earshot Jazz Festival.

Tonight’s Artists:

Leanna Keith: Leanna Keith is a flutist, composer, and improviser. This piece (untitled) is largely a response to performance in isolation. Keith’s practice is one of listening, which has obvious implications in a band setting, but far less obvious in practice when alone in a room.

Josh Hou: In the months since quarantine began, Hou has discovered remote recording as a powerful way to create music as well as maintain and build community. This is a video of a Chinese concerto, reharmonized and rearranged for jazz trio featuring Sara Heng, a guzheng player from Kuala Lumpu, all recorded in separate locatsions.

Melanie Sehman & Sarah Yates: Combining two strikingly different musical backgrounds, Melanie Sehman (drums, percussion) and Sarah Yates (double bass) form an improvising duo that approaches jazz as an exploration of the common ground between their diverse musical languages.

Francesco Crosara: Crosara’s personal brand of jazz has become more focused in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, it reflects the collective anxiety of the moment while providing greater introspection in the purpose of music as a powerful source of comfort and escape.