FRANCESCO CROSARA (piano)
BRUCE PHARES (bass)
ALEXEY NIKOLAEV (soprano & tenor saxophone)

Saturday, March 25th, 2023

Jazz legend Chick Corea’s compositions will be the focus of this Saturday’s Jam In The Atrium at the VCA, with Francesco Crosara and Alexey Nikolaev joining host/bassist Bruce Phares, who will be guiding conversations among the trio regarding Corea’s stylings, as well as brief discussions of the individual songs as well.

Jazz pianist, composer & educator Crosara was a friend of Mr. Corea as well as a student and devotee of Corea’s unique and lyrical stylings. Originally from Milan, he blends into his performances an impressive mix of jazz improvisation, along with a romantic classical vein, mixed with Latin influences. Major piano influences are Chick Corea, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and Herbie Hancock. Having performed over the years with the likes of Lionel Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove, Richie Cole, Bobby Shew, Ira Sullivan, Bruce Forman, and more! 

https://www.francescojazz.com/

Saxophonist Alexey Nikolaev, originally from Moscow, whose extensive jazz festival appearances include Montreux Jazz Festival, Black Sea Jazz Festival, Toronto Jazz FestivalIAJE / New York, Centrum Jazz Festival, Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival Earshot Jazz Festival, San Francisco Balboa Jazz Festival, and many more throughout the U.S., Europe, and Asia now makes Seattle his home base. He has performed with vocalists Bobby Caldwell, The New York Voices, Lary Braggs, Lenny Williams, Greta Matassa, Dee Daniels, saxophonists Dave Liebman, Tom Scott, Maseo Parker, trumpeters Winton Marsalis, John Faddis, Randy Brecker, Greg Adams, guitarist John Pizzarelli, bassists Ray Brown, John Clayton and his All Stars Big Band, drummers Jeff Hamilton, Butch Myles, and vibraphonist Joe Locke, Tower of Power.

https://www.allaboutjazz.com/alexey-nikolaev-from-russia…

Host and jazz bassist Bruce Phares will start the show at 1:00 PM, bringing his “Deconstructng Jazz” Q&A’s with both the artists as well as the audience. JAM performances are made possible by underwriting by JR Crawford w/ Windermere RE. Join our group to stay informed as to upcoming artists: 

www.facebook.com/groups/jamintheatrium

Graphic care of Julia Crosara!