discography

KURAMA

NOTES

EMOTIONS

COLORS

ENERGY

See DISCOGRAPHY section for details on all albums

electronic press kit (EPK)

(Click on the image - PDF format)

at a glance

WHO
Francesco Crosara is a jazz pianist, composer and recording artist available for performance at selected musical venues internationally. Format varies from piano solo to trio, or larger group.

STYLE
Straight-ahead jazz, with elements of latin, fusion, classical and world music.

PERFORMED WITH
Lionel Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove, Richie Cole, Von Freeman, Bobby Shew, Ira Sullivan, Don Menza, John Heard, Gabe Baltazar, Mayuto Correa, Bruce Forman, Barbara Morrison, Earl Palmer, and Lilian Terry.

artist bio

Born in Milano, Italy in 1960 and residing in California, Francesco Crosara is a jazz pianist, composer and educator who has performed at festivals and venues across the USA, Japan, Canada, Mexico, France, Spain, 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.

education / influences

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.

Piano styles influences: Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, Joe Zawinul.

Overall jazz influences: Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, Weather Report, Return To Forever, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny

Classical influences: Beethoven, Debussy, Chopin

selected performances

Japan 2008 & 2009 - Performed in a 5-city tour of Japan, including participation in the Kansai Music Conference (KMC) and a live video taping at Wazz Club in Osaka. Featuring drummer Larry Marshall, bassist Yasushi Gonjo and percussionist Eric Weigman.

Mexico 2005 & 2006 - featured artist at the 2006 Morelia Jazztival. Performance at the Teatro Ocampo in Morelia, Michoacan, with tenor sax Juan Alzate, Cuban percussion master Roberto Vizcaino and rhythm session quintet.

France 2003 - 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".

Los Angeles 2002 - Performances at jazz clubs in Southern California, with Don Menza, John Heard, Ralph Penland, Mayuto Correa (Charlie O's).

Chicago 1997-2000 - collaboration with various well known musicians such as Ira Sullivan, Von Freeman and Roy Hargrove.

San Francisco 1992 - Performed at Jazz at Pearl's with guitar virtuoso Bruce Forman, bassist tim Hauff, and drummer Vince Latiano.

Spain 1992 - Selected, with drummer Eric Kurtz to join 40 artists to represent Hawaii at the US Pavilion in occasion of the Universal Expo'92 in Seville, Spain. Performances at the Belgian and New Zealand Pavilions.

Hawaii 1990 - Performance at Leeward Jazz Festival with quartet. Special guest appearance by alto madness founder Richie Cole.

Hawaii 1988-1993 - Stable member of the Gabe Baltazar's quartet. Performances at festivals, clubs, and televised appearances with Hawaii's saxophone legend.

Los Angeles 1981-1984 - While attending university at USC, has performed regularly with the University's Jazz Ensemble featuring guest stars such as Lionel Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Shew and Bill Magnuson.

Mexico 1983 - Performances at 2 editions of the Morelia jazz festival as featured artist (sponsored by the University of Michoacan).

Italy 1981 - Performances at Jazz Festivals in Bassano, San Marino and Campobasso. Also featured on Italian TV among a selected group of emerging young artists.

media & film

TV
Live jazz performances in trio and quartet format broadcast in Hawaii (1993 & 1994).
See all the live performance videos in Downloads

Film
Original music score for "The Teeny Tinies" a 3-D animation film pilot.
See The Teeny Tinies video in Downloads

Advertising
Commercial Jingles for Hawaiian Host Chocolate radio spots (1994)

Fine Arts
Music score, companion DVD for art book: "Sergio Zen - La Pittura Come Pratica Esistenziale, Carte Dipinte 1957-2007" (2008).

workshops / teaching

Morelia, Mexico 2005 & 2006 - Conducted master classes in improvisation at the Universidad Michoacana San Nicholas De Hidalgo and at the Conservatory of Music Las Rosas.

Hawaii 1992-1996 - With 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.

Indiana 1997-1998 - served as Instructor of Piano Improvisational Technique in the Applied Music Program at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.