Premazzi and 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 for over a year and have honed 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 Massimo Biolcati on bass and JK Kim on drums just ahead of a Midwest Tour in early March.

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.

Performers

Caroline Davis – alto sax
Massimo Biolcati – bass
JK Kim – drums
Simona Premazzi – keys
Kyle Nasser – tenor and soprano sax