For those not in the know, Francesco Crosara is an Italian jazz pianist and composer who has performed at select musical venues internationally.

Furthermore, over his illustrious career thus far, he has also performed with Lionel Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove, Richie Cole, Von Freeman, Lilian Terry, Bobby Shew, Ira Sullivan, Don Menza, John Heard, Gabe Baltazar, Bruce Forman, Barbara Morrison, Earl Palmer, and more.

With a style that can be termed as straight-ahead Jazz with Latin, Fusion, Classical and World music influences, and garnered from a lifetime of music creation, for his brand new album Circular Motion, Seattle-based Crosara has selected 10 of his compositions from the last 40 years with the idea of highlighting the nexus between early work; with its simplicity and youthful appeal, to later works where he expressed richer harmonic textures and possibilities.

Three different rhythm sections bring his music to life, each adding varied sonic textures and rhythmic vitality to the whole. Bassist Clipper Anderson and drummer Mark Ivester swing and float; the vibrant grooves of electric bassist Farko Dosumov and drummer D’Vonne Lewis lend a modern momentum; and the youthful eclecticism of bassist Osama Afifi and drummer Xavier Lecouturier adds yet another dimension.

1. Preludio Flamenco (6:01)
2. Longing (6:24)
3. Julia’s Tango (6:53)
4. Gymnopédie No.4 (8:07)
5. Circular Motion (6:32)
6. Kurama (9:48)
7. Passion (8:08)
8. Maktoub (7:48)
9. One Day Honey, One Day Onions (6:22)
10. Sarava (6:14)

This new recording opens on the organic fluidity of Preludio Flamenco and the upright bass-led, and aptly-titled Longing and then proceeds to bring us the heartwarming Julia’s Tango, the playfully sculpted Gymnopédie No.4, and then comes the sheer effervescent magnificence of the titular Circular Motion.

Up next is one of my own personal favorites, the sincere foot-tapper Kurama and the delightfully orchestrated, veritably summery Passion and they are in turn backed by the upbeat and joyous melodies of Maktoub, the album rounding out on the funky rhythms within One Day Honey, One Day Onions, closing on the flamboyant swirls and twirls of the beautiful Sarava.

PERFORMERS:
Francesco Crosara - acoustic piano, synthesizer (3,9,10)
Clipper Anderson - acoustic bass (2,4,5,8)
Mark Ivester - drums (2,4,5,8)
Farko Dosumov - electric bass (1,3,7,9)
D’Vonne Lewis - drums (1,3,7,9)
Osama Afifi - electric bass (6,10)
Xavier Lecouturier - drums (6,10)

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