From What I Recall

There are albums that surprise you not through artifice or excess, but with the sheer depth of their cultural roots and the elegant simplicity of their execution. This quartet, led by Italian pianist Simona Premazzi and Boston-born saxophonist Kyle Nasser, offers just that: a captivating blend of musical traditions that, beyond its initial surprise, radiates a form of romanticism that feels deeply restorative. It's a record that remains remarkably accessible while revealing layer upon layer of subtlety.

The two artists met in New York, where they've shared numerous stages over the past decade. In 2021, they formalized their collaboration by forming a group with bassist Noah Garabedian and drummer Jay Sawyer an ensemble dedicated to exploring their vision of melodic modernist jazz, enriched by classical harmonies and technique. From iconic New York venues to festivals across the U.S. and South America, the Premazzi / Nasser Quartet has shaped a distinct sonic identity built around luminous melodies, expressive writing, and a vibrant sense of collective artistry.

This is a jazz of the city, one that feels like a kind of imaginary travelogue—notes jotted down from fleeting impressions, places, atmospheres. It's impossible to say where composition ends and improvisation begins. The music is rich with meaning, at times cerebral, then suddenly grounded in something more tactile. There's a perfect balance between what the mind can grasp and what it needs to grow. Based in New York since 2004, Premazzi carries within her that thread of classical influence so present among many European musicians. She weaves it into a deeply personal dramaturgy that complements Nasser's intellectual, exploratory jazz. The result is beautiful, powerful and disarmingly charming.

Simona Premazzi has performed at the most prestigious jazz venues in New York, including the legendary Village Vanguard, as well as at numerous festivals across the Americas and beyond. A few highlights in her journey include several years with The Greg Osby 4 and The Jeremy Pelt Quintet. She has played, toured, or recorded with artists such as 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, and Clovis Nicolas—among many other exceptional musicians.

There's no coincidence here. Over the years, I've had the chance to review many of these artists who shape today's jazz scene at its most inspired. Kyle Nasser, for his part, has also shared the stage with leading figures like Rich Perry, Ethan Iverson, Michael Formanek, Roman Filiu, Massimo Biolcati, and Ben Monder. In addition to leading his own projects, he performs with the international collectives Beekman whose sound was once described as "a joyful, ongoing speculation, moving with surprising ease through nearly every fact" (Jazz, ese ruido) and Triple Blind. With the latter, he received the Chamber Music America New Jazz Works grant in 2021.

Everything seemed to converge for these two musicians to bring such a compelling project to life—one that becomes hard to turn away from once you begin listening. It's the kind of record you can put on repeat, always discovering new details that move you. That is the true magic of composition and arrangement born from passion, and the joy of artists who genuinely love playing together. You can hear that joy in every moment of this recording.