October 29th, 2023
Bainbridge Island Museum of Art

Return to Chick Corea:
Crosara, Nikolaev, Phares, Ivester

Francesco Crosara, piano
Alexey Nikolaev, saxophones
Bruce Phares, bass
Mark Ivester, drums

RETURN TO CHICK COREA is a quartet-based music tribute to the great jazz composer, enhanced with additional original compositions created in the characteristic Spanish-infused
style of Corea.

The RETURN TO CHICK COREA band was formed as a concept exchange between bassist
Bruce Phares and pianist Francesco Crosara. A spirited conversation after an engaging duet
performance led to the initial idea of a concert of all-Chick-Corea compositions, a natural for
Crosara’s Corea-influenced keyboard virtuosity, as well as Phares’ style of bass playing. After a
pilot performance, Crosara, Phares, and sax-wizard Alexey Nikolaev solidified the concept into
the current “Return to Chick Corea” group with the great Mark Ivester on drums. The repertoire
spans freely through Corea’s 5 decades of music interspersed with original compositions by
Crosara written in the style of the maestro.

ABOUT THE MUSICIANS

FRANCESCO CROSARA
Originally from Milan, Italy, Francesco Crosara’s music melds an impressive mix of jazz
improvisation, a romantic vein from his classical training, along with Latin influences. Francesco
stands among the European-bred jazz greats, performing over the years with the likes of Lionel
Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove, Richie Cole, Lilian Terry, and more. His recordings
have featured a multicultural and international array of musicians. Since 2017, the Northwest can claim his talents, too, as he’s demonstrated an eagerness to
contribute to the local scene. Francesco was selected to perform at the 2021 Earshot Jazz Festival
in Seattle and has been featured two years in a row in the trend-setting Earshot Jazz: The Second
Century series for his bold and innovative music composition and video work. In Seattle he
routinely collaborates with local stalwarts like Gail Pettis, Jay Thomas, John Stowell, Nathan
Breedlove, Milo Petersen, Alexey Nikolaev, Clipper Anderson, Mark Ivester, D’Vonne Lewis, Osama Afifi, Farko Dosumov, Bruce Phares, and more. A new CD project will be released in
2024 with the Origin record label.

ALEXEY NIKOLAEV
Since 2000, Alexey lives and works in Seattle. He performs with groups, Axiom Quartet, Greg
Williamson Quartet (Ponyboy Records), Jay Thomas Big Band, Emerald City Big Band, and is a
member and saxophonist soloist of Doctor Funk Band (Strokeland Records).
As a recording artist, Alexey performs and records with musicians like pianists John Hansen, Mark Seals, John Sanders, Bill Anchell, Randy Halberstadt, Tony Foster; vocalists Greta
Matassa, Dee Daniels, Jackie Davis, Karen Shivers, Kelley Johnson, Kelly Eisenhour, Martin
Ross; trumpeters Jay Thomas, Tom Marriott, Vern Sielert, Jim Sisco Andy Omdahl, Steve
Mostovoy; trombonists Dave Marriott, Dan Marcus, Gary Shutes; saxophonist Bill Ramsey, bassists Jon Hamar, Doug Miller, Clipper Anderson, Douglas Barnett, Chuck Kistler, Paul
Gabrielson, Chris Symer, Jim Cliff; drummers Greg Williamson, Brad Boal, Garey Williams, Hose Martinez, Adam Kessler, Matt Jorgensen and many many more.

BRUCE PHARES
Originally classically trained, after his “apprentice” time of studies after high school, Bruce
Phares landed the bass chair in the celebrated Overton Berry Ensemble, which began a 40+ year
deep friendship with Berry. Phares’ approach to bass playing landed him appearances with many
NW region legends such as Ernestine Anderson, Jabo Ward, Floyd Standifer, Eddie Creed, Bob
Nixon, Woody Woodhouse, to name a few. He also served as a rotating sideman for many
national and international artists such greats as George Cables, Sir Roland Hannah, Frank Wess, Mark Murphy, Stanley Cowell, Larry Coryell, Bruce Forman, etc. In the last 10 years, Phares has focused on leading various groupings, rejoining with old friends
John Stowell, Jay Thomas, and John Bishop in his “Reunion Quartet” performances, as well as
leading other groupings, with various NW luminaries such as Marc Seales, Randy Halberstadt, Bill Anschell, Hans Teuber, Jeremy Bacon, Alexy Nikolaev, Brian Monroney, etc. Phares also
heads up a duet concert series on Vashon Island, “The Jam In The Atrium”, playing to packed
audiences at The Vashon Center For The Arts atrium.

MARK IVESTER
Mark Ivester is a consummate drummer, widely respected for his sensitive musicianship and
sincere dedication to his craft. He is experienced in many different idioms from pop-rock to big
band to jazz, latin jazz and orchestral settings. Ivester’s live performance credits are extensive, having worked with such jazz luminaries as John Patitucci, Larry Coryell, Freddy Hubbard, Mal
Waldron, Diane Schuur, Eliane Elias, Bud Shank, Howard Roberts, Jack Sheldon, Michael
Brecker, Charlie Byrd, Barney Kessel, Frank Foster, Bob Mintzer, Randy Brecker, Tierney
Sutton, Ann Hampton-Calloway, Karyn Allison and Mose Allison. Mark’s versatility is demonstrated on a wide range of recordings such as film scores, jingles and
album projects including those of R&B artist Philip Bailey of Earth Wind and Fire, Grammy
award winning new-age duo Tingstad and Rumbel, Brazilian keyboardist Jovino Santos Neto
and vocalist Greta Matassa. Mark is currently on the faculty of Pacific Lutheran University in
Tacoma, WA.

Graphic design by Julia Wright Crosara