Francesco plays in a variety of band formats depending on the style & concept. From piano solo improvisations, to trio, to sextet including horns, percussions, and rhythm section.
Jazz creativity often changes format to keep the music fresh and always inspiring.
Influences
As a jazz pianist, Francesco's influences include: Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, & Thelonious Monk. As a composer and musician, Francesco was influenced by Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis.
Classical music influences include Beethoven, Chopin, Debussy and Ravel.
Rock influences span from Sting and The Police, to Peter Gabriel, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and more.
Sounds Like
Chick Corea Herbie Hancock Keith Jarrett Bill Evans Joe Zawinul
DISCOGRAPHY
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KURAMA (2009) Live in Japan
NOTES (2008) Piano Solo Live in Hawaii
EMOTIONS (2003) Featuring Lilian Terry, Von Freeman & Friends
COLORS (1999) "4-Star Rating" Down Beat Magazine
ENERGY (1992) Hoku Hanohano Awards Best Instrumental Album Nomination
Born in Milano, Italy in 1960 and residing in the USA since 1980, Francesco Crosara is an accomplished jazz pianist, composer and educator who has performed at festivals and venues across the United States, Japan, Canada, Mexico, France and Italy. Francesco comes from a musical family as his mother, Lilian Terry, is one of Europe's foremost jazz vocalists who has recorded also with Dizzy Gillespie and with Tommy Flanagan.
SELECTED PERFORMANCES
Japan - Francesco returned to Japan on his second tour in September 2009 for a series of performances in Kyoto and Osaka, including participation in the Kansai Music Conference Showcase. Francesco featured music from his new CD release “KURAMA”, recorded live in Japan in October 2008. He was joined by a fine group of musicians from Kansai, including Yasushi Gonjo on acoustic bass, Larry Marshall on drums and Eric Weigmann on percussion and drums.
DVD EXCLUSIVE: A video recording of Francesco's performance at Wazz in Osaka will be issued as a live DVD release in 2010.
Kansai Music Conference, Osaka, Japan 2009"
Japan Tour 2009"
Japan - Appeared at Jazz On Top Club in Osaka, Japan, on October 25, 2008, with drummer Larry Marshall and bassist Yasushi Gonjo. One night only special trio performance and recording session.
Mexico - Featured artist at the 2006 Morelia Jazztival. 2005 Performance at the Teatro Ocampo in Morelia, Michoacan, with tenor sax Juan Alzate, cuban percussion master Roberto Vizcaino and rhythm session quintet.
France - Performance with Lilian Terry and a French trio, at the MIDEM 2003 Festival in Cannes to present their new CD Emotions released by TCB the Montreux Jazz Label. 2001 Performance at Chateauvallon jazz festival and at Nice jazz clubs.
Los Angeles - Performances at jazz clubs in Southern California, with Don Menza, John Heard, Ralph Penland, Mayuto Correa (Charlie O's).
Chicago - Collaboration with various well known musicians such as Ira Sullivan, Von Freeman and Roy Hargrove (1997 to 2000).
San Francisco - Performed at Jazz at Pearl's with guitar virtuoso Bruce Forman, bassist tim Hauff, and drummer Vince Latiano (1992).
Hawaii - Performances in Honolulu Theatre award winning productions of Grand Hotel and Rogers and Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song (1995 to 1996).
Spain - Selected with his group and 40 other diverse artists, to represent Hawaii performing at the US Pavilion during the Universal Expo '92 in Seville, Spain. Also performed at Belgian, New Zealand Pavilions and other public locations (1992).
Hawaii - Performance at Leeward Jazz Festival with quartet. Special guest appearance by alto madness founder Richie Cole. Stable member of the Gabe Baltazar's quartet. Performances at festivals, clubs, and televised appearances with Hawaii's saxophone legend.formats (1988 to 1993).
Los Angeles - While studying at USC, Francesco performed regularly with the Jazz Big Band featuring guest stars such as Lionel Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Shew and Bill Magnuson (1981 to 1984).
Italy - Performances at Jazz Festivals in Bassano, San Marino and Campobasso. Also featured on Italian TV among a selected group of emerging young artists (1981).
LECTURES / MASTER CLASSES
Morelia, Mexico - Conducted master classes in improvisation at the Universidad Michoacana San Nicholas De Hidalgo and at the Conservatory of Music Las Rosas (2005 & 2006).
Indiana - Taught as Instructor of Piano Improvisational Technique in the Applied Music Program at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana (1997-1998).
Hawaii - Joining the University of Hawaii Statewide Cultural Extension Program, Francesco performed to enthusiastic audiences around the rainbow state bringing jazz education to schools, correctional institutions, libraries and public parks (1992-1996).
MEDIA & FILM
Fine Arts – Music score, companion DVD for art book: "Sergio Zen - La Pittura Come Pratica Esistenziale, Carte Dipinte 1957-2007" (2008).
TV - Live jazz performances in trio and quartet format broadcast in Hawaii (1993 & 1994).
Film - Original music score for “The Teeny Tinies” a 3D animation film.
MUSIC EDUCATION
Francesco studied Classical piano & Theory at the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia in Rome, followed by private studies in Jazz Harmony, Composition and Improvisation in Italy. In 1981 he attended USC in Los Angeles where he was a permanent member of the USC jazz big band. Main music influences were family friends Dizzy Gillespie and Chick Corea.
VIDEOS
ELECTRIC TRIO MUSIC
Featuring Francesco Crosara (keyboards), Randal Yamamoto (electric bass), Eric Kurtz (drums)
SUITE VENUS (Crosara)
PORTRAIT (Crosara)
BLUES EXCUSE - Just Another Excuse to Play the Blues (Crosara)
JAZZ QUARTET MUSIC
Featuring Francesco Crosara (keyboards), Aaron Aranita (soprano & tenor sax), John Kolivas, (bass), Giancarlo Aru (drums).
PRELUDE/GYMNOPEDIE (Crosara)
SARAVA (Crosara)
PLUTONIUM 239 (Crosara)
SPECIAL GUEST ARTISTS
RICHIE COLE
Featuring Richie Cole (alto sax), Francesco Crosara (piano), Tommy Arsisto (soprano sax), Buddy Banks (bass), Lew Maddox (drums).
A NIGHT IN TUNISIA (Gillespie)
BRUCE FORMAN
Featuring Bruce Forman, (guitar), Francesco Crosara (piano), Tim Hauff (bass), Vince Latiano (drums).
WELL YOU NEEDN'T (Monk)
GABE BALTAZAR
Featuring Gabe Baltazar (alto sax), Francesco Crosara (piano), Henry Allen (guitar), Buddy Banks (bass), Morgan Grant (drums), Sango Muijva (percussions).
GOOD MORNING HEARTACHE (Holiday)
LILIAN TERRY
Featuring Lilian Terry (vocals), Francesco Crosara (piano), Miles Jackson (bass), and Eric Kurtz (drums).
STAR CROSSED LOVERS (Strayhorn)
OTHER PROJECTS
FRANCESCO CROSARA & ERIC KURTZ
Universal Expo '92 Rehearsal Session. KGMB Channel 2 CBS session (unedited), camera angles and music levels are all over the place. Recorded at Commercial Recording Studio, Honolulum Hawaii, August 1992.
Original composition by Francesco, featuring Eric Kurtz on drums.
ti invio l'articolo uscito su "La Strada", a proposito della compilation « A La Costa Sud » nella quale ho avuto il grande piacere di avere Lilian Terry e te come ospiti d’onore. « La Strada » é un quindicinale molto letto sulla Costa Azzurra. si trova in tutti i Fnac stores, nei grandi alberghi e in tutti i posti dove c'é...molta gente come aereoporti etc.Tra l'altro "A La Costa Sud" é il cd piu' venduto nel settore jazz nei Fnac stores di Monte-Carlo e Nice. É in vedita anche nei piu' importanti stores italiani e in tutti i negozi digitali sul Web. Ti abbraccio, Pino
« A la costa sud » (Various Artists) La musique de la Côte d’Azur présentée par Pino Presti // Edizioni Curci. Pino Presti, musicien, arrangeur et producteur italien quasi-légendaire (il a joué avec tout le monde, de Piazzolla à Quincy Jones, de Shirley Bassey à Grappelli ,Gerry Mulligan et toutes les stars italiennes dont Mina ) a réalisé, ce dont nous rêvions tous : la compilation de la musique des meilleurs musiciens de la Côte. Pour rendre hommage à sa région d’adoption, à sa beauté et à sa sensualité, et sa nonchalance, Pino Presti a réuni la crème de la crème. Ce triple CD qui décline la musique en trois volets, Latino, Jazz et World, est rempli de pépites.Tous sont présents: François Chassagnite (magnifique ‘’Phaléne’’), Nina Papa (touchant ‘’Nica’s dream’’), Lilian Terry, Jean-Marc Jafet, Shirley Bunnie Foy, Gabriel Anfosso, Marc Guillermont, Jeanysett McPherson, Linus & Isa, Scott Allen, et des surprises, tel ce merveilleux pianiste qu’est Francesco Crosara. Pour nous tous, défenseurs et amateurs de la musique d’ici, le must absolu de l’été. En emporter et à écouter partout. // Gilbert D’ Alto
Ciao Francesco, leggo che sei sulla via del Giappone per un concerto ad Osaka. Bello!! Sul fronte della compilation siamo in dirittura d'arrivo, sara' pronta per l' uscita entro fine novembre. Puoi dare un' occhiata al sito www. alacostasud. com Manca la musica, che é importantissima per farlo "vivere" veramente. Sara' inserita quando Luca Da Rios, l'artefice del sito, tornera' a Milano da San Francisco, tra una decina di giorni.
Hey Francesco... Gentilissimo per il tuo commento!!! Ancora ci vuole per arrivare a suonare con te..Devo studiare molto di più..eheheh See you soon. God Bless you. Take care mate. Samuele Aru
