Circular Motion

*EDITOR'S CHOICE* Chick Corea's influence on Francesco Crosara can be heard throughout the Italian-born pianist's recent recording Circular Motion (OA2). Like Corea, Crosara refuses to be pigeonholed as a straightahead or fusion jazz artist, but rather seamlessly combines their aesthetics and instrumentation throughout the album. The Seattle-based pianist employs three separate trios over the original 10-track program, and switches between acoustic and electric pianos, as well as acoustic and electric bass accompaniment. Also like Corea — who had been a family friend — Crosara has a penchant for Latin flavors, which he injects into tunes such as the opening "Preludio Flamenco," our selection. Flamenco guitar maestro Paco de Luc'a is another touchstone for the pianist, who aptly conjures the Spanish style here. Bassist Farko Dosumov provides slippery, Jaco-esque electric bass behind Crosara's elegant pianism — and on an expressive solo, as well — while drummer D'Vonne Lewis drives the rhythm and provides plenty of texture and color. Crosara's lyrical piano demonstrates how profoundly Corea's music affected him, and he further cites Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett as inspirations.

Circular Motion included in JAZZIZ's Discovery & Editor's Choice playlists:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3XaMyBy88SXNoZ2CGpDSsg
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/70ti8sjFzKRAfm6J6M3gCx