EPK

Artist Bio

Music

Francesco Crosara, is a Seattle-based Italian-born jazz pianist & composer who is making a significant impact on the jazz scene internationally with a passion for creating and sharing innovative and soulful music. His original compositions meld an impressive mix of jazz improvisation, a romantic vein from his classical Conservatory training in Rome, bouncy lyrical expression, along with strong Latin influences.

Crosara stands among the European-bred jazz greats, performing over the years with the likes of Lionel Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove, Richie Cole, Bobby Shew, Ira Sullivan, Don Menza, Von Freeman, John Heard, Gabe Baltazar, Bruce Forman, Barbara Morrison, Earl Palmer, Lilian Terry, and more.

Crosara’s music draws from his European roots and blends his passion for world music and the influences of jazz piano greats Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Herbie Hancock and Bill Evans. His ensemble has a unique sound that blends contemporary jazz with elements of classical, world music, and Latin grooves. Crosara’s performances are not just concerts, but a musical experience that engages the audience and evokes a range of emotions.

Crosara also serves as President on the Board of Directors of the Music Discovery Center (MDC), a non-profit organization based in Bremerton, WA, dedicated to creating an inclusive space for community members to experience, explore, and contribute to the world of music through education, performance, and mentorship.

In 2025, Crosara joined the Music Faculty at Olympic College in Bremerton, WA, serving as Adjunct Piano Jazz instructor. He is also the piano chair for the Kitsap Jazz Orchestra (KJO), and the Olympic College Faculty Jazz Sextet.

Music Influences – Born in Milan and raised in Rome, Italy, Crosara was exposed to jazz and classical music at an early age. His mother, Lilian Terry, one of Europe’s foremost jazz singers for four decades, was also a TV producer, radio broadcaster, and educator. Terry organized concerts/master classes in Italy and conducted interviews for RAI with some of the most respected figures in American jazz, who also became close friends. Some of them were highly influential on Crosara’s artistic development through the years, especially Max Roach, Abbey Lincoln, Chick Corea, Eumir Deodato, and Dizzy Gillespie. In the early eighties, Terry recorded two album projects, with Dizzy Gillespie, and with Tommy Flanagan, respectively, and co-founded the Dizzy Gillespie Popular School of Music in Bassano, Italy.  Lilian Terry’s memoirs, “Dizzy, Duke, Brother Ray, and Friends“, (2017-University of Illinois Press) received a highly positive review from DownBeat magazine and others.

Current Release – Crosara’s 2024 trio album “Circular Motion” (Origin/OA2 Records) includes fresh interpretations of some of his repertoire, composed over 40 years. The album was nominated for NW Recording of the Year at the Golden Ear Awards in Seattle, and has garnered positive reviews internationally, praising his versatility and skillful blending of different musical styles. The album features a variety of acoustic and electric rhythm sections that contribute to its rich, diverse soundscapes. It includes tracks influenced by global music traditions, such as flamenco, tango, and jazz samba, demonstrating Crosara’s broad musical palette and classical background.

Contact

For info and bookings:
info@francescojazz.com

Social Media

Origin Records Artist Page

Artist Page

Circular Motion CD Page

KNKX Studio Session (NPR)

Live in Italy at OperaEstate

Circular Motion CD Trailer

Performance Schedule

Discography

Circular Motion (2024), Origin / OA2 Records.
Golden Ear Award Nomination.

Kurama (2009), Crosara Creative.
Live in Japan.

Notes (2008), Crosara Creative.
Piano solo live in Hawaii.

Emotions (2003), TCB Montreux Jazz Label.
Featuring Lilian Terry & Von Freeman.

Colors (1999), Southport Records.
Featuring Von Freeman.
4-star Downbeat review.

Energy (1992), Power Wave Records.
Hoku Hanohano Awards Nomination.

Quotes & Reviews

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

United States

“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

“The kind of sensitive swing seldom heard since Bill Evans. Crosara’s rubato meanderings are precious insights into his fertile imagination and harmonic daring.” ~ Jazz Times Magazine

“*EDITOR’S CHOICE* Chick Corea’s influence on Francesco Crosara can be heard throughout the Italian-born pianist’s recent recording Circular Motion (OA2). Like Corea, Crosara refuses to be pigeonholed as a straightahead or fusion jazz artist, but rather seamlessly combines their aesthetics and instrumentation throughout the album.”  JAZZIZ Magazine

“Crosara skillfully translates the grammar of each style into his own voice, respecting the particular origins of each composition.” Earshot Jazz, Seattle

“While his music often falls into the area of modern mainstream jazz, he also doubles on synthesizer and is open to the inspirations of fusion, funk, World Music and Western classical music. […] Francesco Crosara plays this music in his own voice.” Scott Yanow, LA Jazz Scene

“For his brand new album Circular Motion, Seattle-based Crosara has selected 10 of his compositions from the last 40 years with the idea of highlighting the nexus between early work with its simplicity and youthful appeal, to later works where he expressed richer harmonic textures and possibilities.”  Anne Carlini, Exclusive Magazine

“With its global influences and international cast of musicians, Circular Motion takes us on a grand musical journey across continents and decades.”  Fra Noi Magazine, Chicago

“On keyboards, there’s a Stevie Wonder meets Weather Report feel . […] A strong pair of threes beating all other hands.”  Jazz Weekly

“The Italian pianist Francesco Crosara moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2017 and quickly gained attention for his joyful, Latin-influenced melodies in an acoustic setting.”  KNKX The New Cool

“Crosara’s new album show that his music is constantly changing, always connected to the moment he shares with his fellow musicians and audience.”  KNKX Studio Session

“Pianist, composer Francesco Crosara assembles a fine team of musicians for Circular Motion.”  O’s Place Jazz Magazine

“The influences from Chick Corea and Dizzy Gillespie won’t be hard to spot or appreciate here”  Take Effect

“Bouncy lyrical expression”  Neon Jazz

“Play what you love”  Times-Standard

Canada

“Quite how Mr Crosara manages to effect such a perfect blend of technicality in composition and imagination in improvisational flights is a testament to his prowess as both composer and interpreter.”  Raul Da Gama, That Canadian Magazine

Great Britain

“Each trio brings something unique to each of the songs, and for that reason, it is recommended to all fans of piano and piano trios. Each trio brings something different to their respective songs, highlighting different colors and a different feel to each song.”  Jazz Views (UK)

Italy

“Il tono caldo e invitante del pianista, le astute scelte compositive e il suo sublime senso della melodia aprono la strada ad una registrazione senza tempo.  Elementi funky e ‘postazioni’ acustiche in questo coinvolgente e vario programma di musica originale.”  WIndout Magazine (Italy)

“Crosara mostra un vocabolario finemente elaborato e un tocco scintillante e attento, amalgamandosi creativamente con i suoi compagni in ciascuna delle tre configurazioni.”   Udite! Udite! (Italy)

“10 brani selezionati che in qualche modo tendono a riassumere la brillante carriera del pianista italiano stabilitosi da anni a Seattle negli Stati Uniti.”  Backdigit Magazine (Italy)

France

“If you love the piano, you’re in for a treat!” Paris Move (France-English language)

“Crosara est fidèle à son esthétique initiale. […] Riches de textures harmoniques, elles possèdent un swing aussi imparable que le lyrisme transalpin qui s’en dégage naturellement. ”  Culture Jazz (France)

Belgium

“L’ensemble est hétérogène dans la sonorité, c’est évident, mais bien homogène dans l’inspiration et le plaisir.”  Le Soir (Belgium)

“…een uitermate geslaagd album met knappe composities die perfect worden vertolkt door uitmuntende muzikanten.”  Roots Time (Belgium)

Germany

“Zwar ist und bleibt sich Francesco Crosara treu, aber durch die unterschiedlichen Trios sind dennoch andere Klangfarben zu hören und das Album bleibt jeden Moment sensibel und kurzweilig. Als ob er in verschiedenen Sprachen das gleichen sagen wolle.”  Kultur Port (Germany)

Switzerland

“Im Laufe der Jahre hat Crosara sein visionäres Savoir-faire auf perfekte Weise entwickelt und verfeinert, wobei seine Vorfahren im Geiste förmlich aus dem Kompositionsschema herausragen: Chick Corea, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett und Herbie Hancock.” Jazz’N More (Switzerland)

Japan

“でのスペイシー な世界や、 アコースティックピア ノで歌い上げる
7 9 このピアニス トの過去と未来を熱く語る力作とな っている。
”  Jazz Life (Japan)