Dayna Stephens at 606 Club

American saxophonist Dayna Stephens has worked with the biggest stars on the US jazz scene, from Brad Mehldau, Kenny Barron & Ambrose Akinmusire to Chris Potter, Roy Hargrove and Julian Lage in a career that has recently seen him rising to International attention with the release of his latest, eighth album, “Gratitude”. The title has particular significance as Stephens, who attended Berklee of College of Music on full scholarship as well as the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, has only lately fully recovered from a kidney transplant that kept him sidelined for some years. Now that this vastly talented musician and composer is back in full form, this 606 appearance will be his first live show in London in 17 years! A renowned educator, Dayna teaches at Manhattan’s New School and Stanford University and in collaboration with pianist Taylor Eigsti has written large-scale compositions for symphony orchestra as well as big band arrangements for his alma mater, Berklee. With a voluptuous and contemplative sound Stephens’ occasional bursts of speed are made even more electric by virtue of their dynamic contrast & element of surprise. American national radio network NPR Music summed up his approach as fashioning “supple, searching improvisations that brim with melodic cogency” while Downbeat Magazine called him “an artist full of composure and imagination”. His new album received glowing reviews from publications such as Jazzwise, All About Jazz, Financial Times and well, everyone. So it is with great delight that we welcome Dayna to the 606 Club with his stellar UK rhythm section for what is sure to be an immensely rewarding evening....

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American saxophonist Dayna Stephens has worked with the biggest stars on the US jazz scene, from Brad Mehldau, Kenny Barron & Ambrose Akinmusire to Chris Potter, Roy Hargrove and Julian Lage in a career that has recently seen him rising to International attention with the release of his latest, eighth album, “Gratitude”. The title has particular significance as Stephens, who attended Berklee of College of Music on full scholarship as well as the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, has only lately fully recovered from a kidney transplant that kept him sidelined for some years. Now that this vastly talented musician and composer is back in full form, this 606 appearance will be his first live show in London in 17 years! A renowned educator, Dayna teaches at Manhattan’s New School and Stanford University and in collaboration with pianist Taylor Eigsti has written large-scale compositions for symphony orchestra as well as big band arrangements for his alma mater, Berklee. With a voluptuous and contemplative sound Stephens’ occasional bursts of speed are made even more electric by virtue of their dynamic contrast & element of surprise. American national radio network NPR Music summed up his approach as fashioning “supple, searching improvisations that brim with melodic cogency” while Downbeat Magazine called him “an artist full of composure and imagination”. His new album received glowing reviews from publications such as Jazzwise, All About Jazz, Financial Times and well, everyone. So it is with great delight that we welcome Dayna to the 606 Club with his stellar UK rhythm section for what is sure to be an immensely rewarding evening.

“lush solos spill from his horn as easily as a pleasant summer breeze…swimming in honest emotion and beautiful sounds” All About Jazz; “Refreshing in his resistance to flash and fanciness….Stephens’ tone on tenor is a thing of beauty” LondonJazz News; “He finds a place where serenity, soulfulness and sincerity coexist” Jazz Times

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