Simona Premazzi
Ravenscroft
8445 E Hartford Dr
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Nov 3, 2023
7:00 PM MST
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About this concert
Friday, November 3rd at 7:00 pm, Ravenscroft welcomes the Kyle Nasser & Simona Premazzi Quintet to the Jazzbird stage. Featured artists include Kyle Nasser–Saxophone, Simona Premazzi–Piano, Kenji Wagner–Trumpet, Jay Sawyer–Drums, and Noah Garabedian–Bass. New York City based artists 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 group has played frequently around NYC at venues such as Smalls, Lunatico, Bar Bayeux, and Cellar Dog and have toured the Midwest and New England, honing a book of music that has diverse influences yet a consistent aesthetic – modern jazz with historical awareness, copious counterpoint, strong melodies, and groove. They are excited to bring frequent collaborators Noah Garabedian on bass and Jay Sawyer on drums and feature local standout trumpeter Kenji Wagner. Kyle Nasser possesses, “superlative musicianship as a performer, writer and a bandleader…ardent creativity and urbane artistic composure” (Hrayr Attarian, All About Jazz). He has played all over NYC – the Blue Note, Smalls, Iridium, 55 Bar, Lunatico, Bar Bayeux – and has toured in the U.S. and South America. He plays with the collectives Beekman and Triple Blind. With the former, he’s been nominated for Chile’s Premios Pulsar award for best jazz album, and with the latter, he was the recipient of Chamber Music America’s New Jazz Works grant for 2021. Pianist Simona Premazzi is a fearless modernist composer and improviser with a deeply romantic lyricism at her core. Downbeat Magazine calls her “a wickedly clever soloist with a very original viewpoint.” Simona has recorded several critically acclaimed albums and performed at jazz festivals around the US and abroad, as well as at all major New York jazz venues including the Village Vanguard. Experience an evening filled with wonderful jazz and choose from a fine selection of wine, craft beers, and catered dinner options for purchase. Check back here or visit our Facebook page the Thursday before this event for a more detailed dining menu. Doors open at 6:00 pm, and the show begins at 7:00 pm.
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About the venue
Ravenscroft opened its doors in October 2021. The 30,000 square foot music venue and multi-use space is located at 8445 E. Hartford Drive, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 (in the P...
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Simona Premazzi Biography
“Premazzi, a wickedly clever soloist with a very original viewpoint.” - DownBeat
"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]
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. A gifted musician, Simona is a graduate of the conservatory of music in Udine. She followed up her studies in Milano, by enrolling in the International Academy of Music and CPM music school, studying under the incomparable supervision of two of Italy’s formidable jazz masters, Massimo Colombo and Franco D’Andrea.
As a student she became a member of two of the Academy’s most interesting bands – the Mingus Fingers Septet, of course focusing on the music of Charles Mingus, followed by a four year stint with Enrico Intra’s Big Band, touring across Italy and playing along side internationally recognized musicians including Markus Stockhausen, David Raksin, Franco Cerri, James Newton, Tiziana Ghiglioni, Dave Liebman, Eddie Daniels, Enrico Rava, Paolo Fresu and many others.
Since moving to New York in 2004, she has earned recognition for her improvisational work and skillful approach as a composer, with an unmistakable style and depth that comes across in every one of her compositions. She has shown herself to be an accomplished bandleader and much sought after collaborative partner on other artists’ musical projects. Premazzi performed in all major New York jazz venues including the historic and prestigious Village Vanguard, and jazz festivals around the US and abroad. Highlights of her musical path include a few years collaboration with Greg Osby 4 and with Jeremy Pelt 5et, sharing international stages with jazz masters Victor Lewis, Billy Drummond, Ben Allison and others.
“Premazzi, a wickedly clever soloist with a very original viewpoint.” [Frank Alkier - DownBeat Magazine]
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, J.D. Allen, Billy Drummond, Victor Lewis, Ari Hoenig, Nasheet Waits, and many more fine artists.
"Premazzi excels as both pianist and composer. Premazzi’s solos spin and dart, at times restarting mid- thought to follow a surprising, unexpected path. But her melodic spins never detract, they simply surprise. She’s inventive, but always swinging." [Ken Micallef – DownBeat Magazine]
Simona has released 4 CDs as a leader. The latest one, “Outspoken” (PRE) 2017, received stellar reviews by The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times, the DownBeat Magazine gave it 4 stars and selected it among the best albums of 2017. “Outspoken” features her quartet with long time collaborator saxophonist Dayna Stephens, bassist Joe Martin, drummer Nasheet Waits, guest trumpeter and producer Jeremy Pelt and guest vocalist Sara Serpa.
"Ms. Premazzi’s star is on the rise, as all of Outspoken attests." [The New York Times]
"..a stellar quartet that portrays her music in the best possible light." "[Outspoken] puts forth Premazzi's most singular traits. Rather than using themes as springboards for improvisation, she probes them to get to their essence, leaving no stone unturned in the process.” [Alain Drouot - Downbeat Jazz Magazine 4 stars review]
“A distinctive voice in her own right. “Outspoken” knows its history but its restless sound continually pushes jazz forward.” [The Los Angeles Times]
Her 3rd CD “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]
Read More"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]
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. A gifted musician, Simona is a graduate of the conservatory of music in Udine. She followed up her studies in Milano, by enrolling in the International Academy of Music and CPM music school, studying under the incomparable supervision of two of Italy’s formidable jazz masters, Massimo Colombo and Franco D’Andrea.
As a student she became a member of two of the Academy’s most interesting bands – the Mingus Fingers Septet, of course focusing on the music of Charles Mingus, followed by a four year stint with Enrico Intra’s Big Band, touring across Italy and playing along side internationally recognized musicians including Markus Stockhausen, David Raksin, Franco Cerri, James Newton, Tiziana Ghiglioni, Dave Liebman, Eddie Daniels, Enrico Rava, Paolo Fresu and many others.
Since moving to New York in 2004, she has earned recognition for her improvisational work and skillful approach as a composer, with an unmistakable style and depth that comes across in every one of her compositions. She has shown herself to be an accomplished bandleader and much sought after collaborative partner on other artists’ musical projects. Premazzi performed in all major New York jazz venues including the historic and prestigious Village Vanguard, and jazz festivals around the US and abroad. Highlights of her musical path include a few years collaboration with Greg Osby 4 and with Jeremy Pelt 5et, sharing international stages with jazz masters Victor Lewis, Billy Drummond, Ben Allison and others.
“Premazzi, a wickedly clever soloist with a very original viewpoint.” [Frank Alkier - DownBeat Magazine]
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, J.D. Allen, Billy Drummond, Victor Lewis, Ari Hoenig, Nasheet Waits, and many more fine artists.
"Premazzi excels as both pianist and composer. Premazzi’s solos spin and dart, at times restarting mid- thought to follow a surprising, unexpected path. But her melodic spins never detract, they simply surprise. She’s inventive, but always swinging." [Ken Micallef – DownBeat Magazine]
Simona has released 4 CDs as a leader. The latest one, “Outspoken” (PRE) 2017, received stellar reviews by The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times, the DownBeat Magazine gave it 4 stars and selected it among the best albums of 2017. “Outspoken” features her quartet with long time collaborator saxophonist Dayna Stephens, bassist Joe Martin, drummer Nasheet Waits, guest trumpeter and producer Jeremy Pelt and guest vocalist Sara Serpa.
"Ms. Premazzi’s star is on the rise, as all of Outspoken attests." [The New York Times]
"..a stellar quartet that portrays her music in the best possible light." "[Outspoken] puts forth Premazzi's most singular traits. Rather than using themes as springboards for improvisation, she probes them to get to their essence, leaving no stone unturned in the process.” [Alain Drouot - Downbeat Jazz Magazine 4 stars review]
“A distinctive voice in her own right. “Outspoken” knows its history but its restless sound continually pushes jazz forward.” [The Los Angeles Times]
Her 3rd CD “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]
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