The Lucid Dreamer perfectly showcases Simona’s versatility and understated elegance at the piano. It provides ample proof that she is one of the jazz world's most diverse and distinctly unique pianists, composer and bandleader. The album is conceptual. It’s titled after the - conscious process of dreaming known as lucid dreaming, which is realistic and vivid, allowing the dreamer a greater chance to exert some degree of control over participation in the dream – the ability to manipulate the imagery in the dream environment. Lucid dreaming is not a state of sleep, but one of brief wakefulness. Joining Premazzi on this intimate and richly melodic collection is another outstanding former label mate, the impressive young tenor saxophonist and composer Melissa Aldana. Master players,bassist Ameen Saleem and drummer Jochen Rueckert, round out the ensemble. An added bonus is special guest Greg Osby. The inimitable saxophonist is featured on the title track, “The Lucid Dreamer” and on “Optics”. The album begins with a reading by the American poet, Edna St. Vincent Millay, of her deeply moving and passionate poem, "Love Is Not All”, which happens to be the title of the first track on the album. This opening perfectly sets up the mood of the album, which is at once introspective and classically modern with a dash of the traditional for good measure. Every track offers up Simona’s uncanny ability for expression and lyricism. The trio of musicians that join Simona, provide counter balance and become the perfect ensemble on some of the more improvisational pieces - able to branch out, blend and follow when necessary. Simona doesn’t just play good music, she sketches portraits that come to life in the hands of a truly inspired artist. Her intricate, yet fluent musical phrasing tells a complete story that takes the listener on an unmistakable and unforgettable musical journey. Gary Heimbauer describes Simona Premazzi as – “A talented composer with a knack for creating pieces with tricky yet pretty themes, often with odd or unpredictable rhythmic figures and time signatures, that still retain a string of beauty that always runs through.…Simona Premazzi is one of the more exciting and poignant pianists on the current New York scene.” With this latest release she delivers a masterful musical treat. LINER NOTES BY GREG OSBY: With The Lucid Dreamer, pianist Simona Premazzi continues the great tradition of musicians that have helped, by artistic measure, to define the underpinnings of composed and improvised instrumental music since its inception. Much like her direct influences, Andrew Hill, Jaki Byard, Sun Ra, Monk and Ahmad Jamal, to name a few, Simona has elected to frame herself squarely in an environment that is demanding of a player’s understanding of time, feel, interchange, and the ability to convey their perspectives on life, sentiment and compassion with an effort that is as sincere as it is emotionally revealing. This collection features a cast of some of the most heralded and sought after musicians in today’s jazz sphere; tenor saxophonist Melissa Aldana, bassist Ameen Saleem, drummer Jochen Rueckert and myself, Greg Osby on alto and soprano saxophones. Each composition features a delicate interplay throughout amongst the musicians that exhibits the incredible musical aptitude of the players themselves and easily reflects their mutual respect and admiration for the leader as well as her vision. The performances on The Lucid Dreamer straddle the line between chamber music and more ¬intuitive offerings, and the musicians often find themselves in the midst of creating ghostly soundscapes that evoke visions of subconscious inspiration. As the name suggests, this project suggests imagery that conjures surreal, almost dreamlike sound vistas. Especially notable are Premazzi’s exceptionally thoughtful and thematic solos, which clearly reflect her early influence from Andrew Hill – a fitting model indeed. Imagination, technique, and dedication - it takes all three for the creative process to produce a completed work of art, be it painting, sculpture, dance, theatre, writing, or in the case of The Lucid Dreamer, music. Imagination provides the creativity to re-arrange silence with a finite number of sounds in a way not heard before; technique provides the ability to physically manipulate the instruments to bring forth the sounds the imagination has conceived; dedication provides the impetus to overcome the numerous major and minor obstacles that can prevent the artist from completing the work and making it available to a receptive and welcoming audience. Each successive listen to this stunning work, reveals a rich and intricate fabric of musical voices strongly rooted in contemporary expression. Fortunately, the artists featured on The Lucid Dreamer, guided by the informed leadership of Simona Premazzi, have artfully crafted a most memorable work that will continue to inspire each and every listener for some time to come – whether dreaming or awake. - GREG OSBY, NYC/2013