Colors

Pianist Crosara uses mostly acoustic piano and some Fender Rhodes to play jazz in a manner unmistakably linked to Chick Corea. He has that bouncy, light, leprechaun-like feel and hyper-melodic, slightly Latin tinge that is all things Chick. There are some change-ups, employing Chicago tenor saxophone veteran Von Freeman on five cuts, one also with vocalist Claudia Perez for the Portuguese lyrics on "Passion/Paixao," and using synthesizer for the aforementioned cut and on a complex "Plutonium 239," a time shifting dramatic open with free section from Freemen to a hard bop to swinging blues and back multi-faceted original. There are many tender moments where Crosara puts Corea a bit aside, like the beautiful intro of "Dolphin Dance" before Freeman comes in late on the second time through the melody. His solo interpretation of "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most" cascades, flowing into repeated statements that eventually hint at stride. The slightly flat Freeman is masterful on the title track, a piano-tenor duo ballad, and the rhythm section joins them for "I Loves You Porgy/Bess, You Is My Woman." A funky 6/8 Rhodes driven "Someday My Prince Will Come" with trio, and the marvelous twelve-and-a-half minute "Suite Venus" (recorded in Honolulu with Hawaiian jazzsters) on acoustic piano and Rhodes really rams the point across: Chick being the main influence on Crosara's musical thinking. There's no real rehash here, and Corea is still doing this type of jazz better than ever. But on the ground floor Crosara has considerable talent, and can look upwards to the next few higher floors to visit the musical forever he seeks. ~ Michael G. Nastos, Rovi