SIMONA PREMAZZI
“LET ME BE FREE”
1. Rumination on Peace 09:31
2. Rumination on All Blues 08:14
“Premazzi, originally from Milan, Italy and now residing in New York City, got things underway with a magnificent solo virtuoso performance. Taking eloquent improvisational playing to another level as she rolled into Miles Davis’s classic “All Blues.” – Jazz in Buffalo concert review
Recorded live at Buffalo CMC Jazz Festival on July 26, 2018.
Recorded by Bill Sack at Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center.
Mixed and mastered by Walter Fischbacher, Brooklyn, NY.
SIMONA PREMAZZI
“OUTSPOKEN”
Simona Premazzi piano
Dayna Stephens tenor and soprano saxophones
Joe Martin bass
Nasheet Waits drums
Guests
Jeremy Pelt trumpet on track 4
Sara Serpa vocals on track 5
2. Premaxity 8:35
3. Up On A. Hill 7:01
4. Peltlude 5:52
5. It Is Here 3:14
6. Digression 6:25
7. Blakonian Groove 4:42
8. Lush Life 3:36
9. Later Ago 7:13
10. Euterpe’s Dance (Duo) 2:01
Released July 14, 2017
All compositions by Simona Premazzi (ASCAP – EdnaMusic Publishing), except “Blakonian Groove” by Dayna Stephens (ASCAP), “Lush Life” by Billy Strayhorn (ASCAP), “It Is Here” lyrics from homonym Harold Pinter’s poem.
Recorded on April 7th, 2016 at Sear Sound Studios, New York City.
Recorded and mixed by James Farber at Sear Sound Studio.
Mastered by Nate Wood at Kerseboom Mastering.
SIMONA PREMAZZI
“THE LUCID DREAMER”
Musicians
Simona Premazzi piano
Melissa Aldana tenor saxophone on tracks 2, 3, 4, 5, 10
Ameen Saleem bass
Jochen Rueckert drums
Greg Osby soprano saxophone on track 6, alto sax on track 7
Released October 25, 2013
02. One For Hunter S. 7:17
03. Illusions 6:41
04. Simona’s Moods 8:36
05. Nude In A Landscape 6:22
06. The Lucid Dreamer 6:56
07. Optics [Premazzi, Ricciardi] 5:39
08. Trinkle Tinkle [T. Monk] 5:17
09. Piano Invention #3 2:35
10. Free Fall [M. Aldana] 5.41
11. Illusions [Trio Version] 5:09
All compositions written by Simona Premazzi except for track 7 by Simona Premazzi and Alice Ricciardi, track 8 by Thelonious Monk, track 10 by Melissa Aldana. “Love Is Not All” poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay. One For Hunter S. was composed in dedication to Hunter S. Thompson.
Recorded on December 16 and 17, 2012 by Tom Tedesco at Tedesco Studios, Paramus, N.J. Mixed and mastered on June 2013 by Liberty Ellman at 4DS Studios, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Cover Design by Riccardo Gola.
SIMONA PREMAZZI AND THE INTRUDERS “INSIDE IN”
Simona Premazzi piano, nord electro, spoken words and vocals [track 10]
Stacy Dillard tenor saxophone
Ryan Berg acoustic and electric bass
Rudy Royston drums
Baba Israel Mcee [track 6 and 10]
01 Jardin Le Sonn 7:11
02 Moving Is The Thing 8:21
03 Blue Moon [Rodgers-Hart] 8:46
04 The Words Not Said 4:29
05 Brazil [Ari Barroso] 6:58
06 Looking For An Exit 7:05
07 Exit Strategy 6:14
08 Humph 5:39
09 D.D.I.B. 6:05
10 Your Smell 4:21
Released July, 2010
Recorded at Michael Brorby studio, Brooklyn NY on October 29-30, 2008.
Mixed and mastered by Michael Perez-Cizneros.
SIMONA PREMAZZI
“LOOKING FOR AN EXIT”
Simona Premazzi piano
Joe Sanders bass
Ari Hoenig drums
01. Smokersion 8:39
02. Autumn Leaves [Kosma – Mercer] 5:50
03. Four O’Clock 7:32
04. Just One Of Those Things [Cole Porter] 3:44
05. Ale’s Dog 5:10
06. Prayer For Robert 5:12
07. Junkie Paper Dragon 4:36
08. B.R.A.D. 5:33
09. But Not For Me [George Gershwin] 6:55
10. Looking For An Exit 4:30
Released January 1, 2007
All compositions by Simona Premazzi except as indicated.
SIMONA PREMAZZI
“SOUND SCAPE SS18”
Simona Premazzi piano
Clovis Nicolas bass
Jochen Rueckert drums
1. Soberlicious 4:58
2. Amrita 5:18
3. Light At Dawn 3:50
4. Mellow Reich 4:41
5. Secret Garden 5:44
6. Afternoon 4:45
7. No One Like You 6:55
8. Bizetziac 4:53
9. Sunday Mist 4:00
10. The False Goodbye 4:53
11. Sunset Waltz 4:06
Released January 1, 2020
Bandmates Clovis Nicolas on bass and Jochen Rueckert on drums contributed with their mastery to make this musical experience a special one.
Recorded on September 15, 2017 at Big Orange Sheep Studios, Brooklyn, NY.
Recorded by Christopher Benham sound engineer. Mixed and Mastered by Davide
Looking For An Exit
Sound Scape SS18
(Commissioned Album)
BUY: BANDCAMP
Tales, Musings and other Reveries
New Perspectives
(Featuring)
BUY: AMAZON | APPLE MUSIC
ALBUMS
WHAT’S
NEW
WHAT’S
Wave In Gravity – solo piano
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NEW
Nasser/Premazzi 4tet at Providencia Jazz Fest in Santiago-Chile 2024
Simona Premazzi and Kyle Nasser have played together for nearly a decade, but in late 2021, they hatched the idea to start a collaborative group, each doing half the writing. The rhythm section features bassist Noah Garabedian and drummer Jay Sawyer. This January the...
Biography
“Her composing style stays modern without ever being airless and swing-deficient, open without getting lost in harmony and sentimentality. And her soloing is special.” [Ben Ratliff – New York Times]
A fearless modernist composer and improviser with a deeply lyricism at her core, New York based pianist Simona Premazzi has developed an impressive body of work as a composer and bandleader. Originally from Italy, Premazzi hails from a small town in the outskirts of Milano, where she began playing piano at age 8 and a half. After obtaining master’s degrees both in classical and jazz music, she moved to New York in 2004, where she earned recognition for her improvisational work and skillful approach as a composer.
Premazzi performed in all major New York jazz venues including the historic and prestigious Village Vanguard, jazz festivals around the US, South America and abroad. Highlights of her musical path include a few years collaboration with The Greg Osby 4 and with The Jeremy Pelt 5et. Among the many, she has performed, toured and/or recorded with: Jeremy Pelt, Greg Osby, Dayna Stephens, Mark Shim, Tineke Postma, Melissa Aldana, Seamus Blake, Wayne Escoffery, Kyle Nasser, Billy Drummond, Victor Lewis, Ari Hoenig, Nasheet Waits, Clovis Nicolas and many more fine artists.
© Chirs Drukker Photography
at Birdland Jazz Club in New York
Simona has released 7 critically acclaimed albums as a leader: Looking For An Exit (best trio albums of the year on Japanese magazine Jazz Hihyo 2007), Inside In (Simona Premazzi and The Intruders PRE 2010), The Lucid Dreamer (featured article on DownBeat, ICM 2013), Outspoken (best albums of the year 4 stars on DownBeat 2017), Let Me Be Free – Live at Buffalo CMC Jazz Festival (solo piano 2018), Sound Scape SS18 (commissioned work from high-end fashion brand Loro Piana campaign 2018), Wave In Gravity (featured article on DownBeat, 4 1/2 stars review on Stereophile, 2023).
“Premazzi, a wickedly clever soloist with a very original viewpoint.” [Frank Alkier – DownBeat Magazine]
About her latest release in piano solo Wave In Gravity All About Jazz says: “Swing, abstraction, and lyricism all find a place on this forty-six-minute statement. Premazzi’s playing’s distinguished by a highly developed technical facility, and that an advanced intelligence is in play is never in doubt.“
“The Lucid Dreamer” (Inner Circle Music) 2013, highly reviewed on The New York Times by Ben Ratliff, features multi awarded tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana, bassist Ameen Saleem, drummer Jochen Rueckert and special guest Greg Osby on alto and soprano saxophones. Her debut album, “Looking For An Exit” (PRE) 2007, a trio with Ari Hoenig on drums and Joe Sanders on bass, was listed among the best trio albums between 2004 and 2008 by the prestigious Japanese magazine, Jazz Hihyo. Her highly acclaimed second album “Inside In” (PRE) 2010, on which Simona expands her approach to also spoken words and keyboard sounds, features her band, “The Intruders” with Stacy Dillard on tenor saxophone, bassist Ryan Berg, drummer Rudy Royston and MC rapper Baba Israel. “The Intruders” at times expanded to a larger ensemble hosting in rotation other musicians as tenor saxophonists Wayne Escoffery and Dayna Stephens, and trumpeter Josh Evans.
“A fearless modernist composer and improviser with a deeply romantic lyricism at her core, Simona Premazzi is one of the most fascinating and creative pianists in New York today.” [Hot House Jazz Magazine]
at Disney Music Hall in Los Angeles
at Village Vanguard in New York
“She’s bringing a lot to the table. Her composing style stays modern without ever being airless and swing-deficient, open without getting lost in harmony and sentimentality; idea driven but not so much that the listener needs explanations. And her soloing is special: She’s picking up on a complex, heavily rhythmic and idiosyncratic tradition that goes back to stride piano and runs through Thelonious Monk and Andrew Hill. Her solos move in fits and starts, flowing and abrupt, always interesting.”
“Simona Premazzi has assembled a stellar quartet that portrays her music in the best possible light… Rather than using themes as springboards for improvisation, she probes them to get to their essence, leaving no stone unturned in the process.”
“Her touch is feathery and wildly charismatic. As is she. This is a woman who isn’t afraid to record one of her ballads (“Euterpe’s Dance”) twice on the same CD; once just with her bassist as an atmospheric duo and once in traditional trio format (piano/bass/drums).”
“Throughout the album, Premazzi’s solos are full of unexpected leaps and lines that never reach a typical conclusion. Direct influences are difficult to spot in her solos, which can border on experimental, and she also traverses bop, stride and swing. She doesn’t sound like any other pianist in New York today.”
“A distinctive pianist whose fairly free yet melodic and lyrical improvising style at times recalls Paul Bley, Premazzi often sounds as if she were thinking aloud at the piano. Her spontaneous music develops logically if unpredictably and keep’s one’s attention throughout.”
“She’s bringing a lot to the table. Her composing style stays modern without ever being airless and swing-deficient, open without getting lost in harmony and sentimentality; idea driven but not so much that the listener needs explanations. And her soloing is special: She’s picking up on a complex, heavily rhythmic and idiosyncratic tradition that goes back to stride piano and runs through Thelonious Monk and Andrew Hill. Her solos move in fits and starts, flowing and abrupt, always interesting.” Read more…
“Simona Premazzi has assembled a stellar quartet that portrays her music in the best possible light… Rather than using themes as springboards for improvisation, she probes them to get to their essence, leaving no stone unturned in the process.” Read more…
“Her touch is feathery and wildly charismatic. As is she. This is a woman who isn’t afraid to record one of her ballads (“Euterpe’s Dance”) twice on the same CD; once just with her bassist as an atmospheric duo and once in traditional trio format (piano/bass/drums).” Read more…
“Throughout the album, Premazzi’s solos are full of unexpected leaps and lines that never reach a typical conclusion. Direct influences are difficult to spot in her solos, which can border on experimental, and she also traverses bop, stride and swing. She doesn’t sound like any other pianist in New York today.” Read more…
“A distinctive pianist whose fairly free yet melodic and lyrical improvising style at times recalls Paul Bley, Premazzi often sounds as if she were thinking aloud at the piano. Her spontaneous music develops logically if unpredictably and keep’s one’s attention throughout.” Read more…
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