Francesco Crosara profile picture

Francesco Crosara

Colors -
Album Rating: 4 stars
Down Beat

About Me

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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, 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

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.
Chicago - Performed with various greats such as Ira Sullivan, Von Freeman and Roy Hargrove (1997 to 2000).
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 - Performed as pianist with saxophonist Gabe Baltazar's quartet. Also live performances ranging from solo to big band 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).

FILM & TV

Live jazz performances broadcast in Hawaii (1993 & 1994).
Original music score for The Teeny Tinies an experimental 3D animation film (1993).
Commercial Jingles for Hawaiian Host Chocolate radio spots (1994).

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 1981he attended USC in LosAngeles where he was a permanent member of the USC jazz big band.Main influences have been family friends Dizzy Gillespie and Chick Corea.

VIDEOS

SUITE VENUS - Francesco Crosara (keyboards), Randal Yamamoto (electric bass), Eric Kurtz (drums)


PORTRAIT - Francesco Crosara (keyboards), Randal Yamamoto (electric bass), Eric Kurtz (drums)


BLUES EXCUSE (Just Another Excuse to Play the Blues) - Francesco Crosara (keyboards), Randal Yamamoto (electric bass), Eric Kurtz (drums)

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 2/2/2008
Band Website: francescojazz.com
Band Members:

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


Record Label: Southport Records (Chicago), TCB (Montreux, CH)
Type of Label: Indie