Live Music at Vintage with Cara Francis, Hans Brehmer, and Osama Afifi

Posted by karle@porttownsendvineyards.com

There is an inimitable charm to vocalist Cara Francis. She graces the stage with an easy sense of swing, a quick wit and a lyrical feel that is both playful and heartfelt. Her snappy blonde bob and vintage couture create a striking visual, and her eclectic repertoire−a tasteful mix of classics from the Great American Songbook and jazz-infused pop tunes from the 60’s and 70’s−delights audiences wherever she plays.Cara’s approach is intentional and specific. “People did not stop writing music in 1955,” she says, “and there is an un-mined catalog of songs that can be reinterpreted through a jazz lens and presented in an entirely new way.” Her goal is to give the listener a new experience of each song, be it Burt Bacharach’s “One Less Bell to Answer” or Duke Ellington’s “Satin Doll,” while also touching a familiar emotional place. She explains, “Stories change as we change. The cautionary love song you listened to in your 20’s takes on a whole different hue when you’re 50. And music is interactive. The band and I bring the song, but the meaning blooms in the listener.” Francesco Crosara is a Seattle area based Italian jazz pianist, composer and educator routinely performing in a variety of formations. Crosara’s original music melds an impressive mix of jazz improvisation, a romantic vein from his classical Conservatory training in Rome, bouncy lyrical expression along with strong Latin influences. His main jazz piano influences are Chick Corea, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and Herbie Hancock.Crosara stands among the European-bred jazz greats, performing over the years with the likes of Lionel Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, Roy Hargrove, Richie Cole, Bobby Shew, Ira Sullivan, Don Menza, Von Freeman, John Heard, Gabe Baltazar, Mayuto Correa, Bruce Forman, Barbara Morrison, Earl Palmer, Lilian Terry, and more. His recordings have featured a multicultural and international array of musicians. He has performed at festivals and venues across the USA, Japan, Canada, Mexico, France, Spain, and Italy.Since 2017, the Pacific Northwest can claim Crosara’s 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 editing work. Equally adept with acoustic and electric jazz concepts, Crosara routinely headlines trios and quartets with the area top musicians.Francesco has produced 6 international jazz albums over the last three decades ranging from straight-ahead to fusion and Latin.  Featured guest artists include Von Freeman, Lilian Terry, Dave Marr, Rusty Jones, Paulinho Garcia, Dean Taba, Noel Okimoto, Yasushi Gonjo, Larry Marshall, Miles Jackson, Eric Kurtz, and more. His 2000 album “Colors” received 4 stars from Down Beat magazine.Crosara also serves as Vice President and Education chair on the Board of Directors of the Music Discovery Center (MDC), a non-profit organization based in Bremerton, WA, dedicated to creating an inclusive space for community members to experience, explore, and contribute to the world of music through education, performance, and mentorship.

Event Date
Sunday, February 12, 2023
Event time
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Cost / donation
Free
Contact
Karle Coppenrath
contact@porttownsend
vineyards.com,
3603448155
Categories
Music & theater