Dayna Stephens Quintet Featuring Billy Childs at Kuumbwa Jazz Center

Tenor saxophonist Dayna Stephens has been steadily making a name for himself as one of his generation’s most lauded instrumentalists and accomplished bandleaders. With a sinewy yet soothing tone, his playing is rich with melodic improvisations that veer from wild expansions to deliberately concise phrasing. His compositions often employ suspenseful and engrossing arrangements, but are complete with sing-able melodies. Although capable of fast and frenetic bursts, Stephens’ playing also recalls some of the major ballad players—such as Lester Young and Dexter Gordon—while the strains of great soul singers and balladeers such as Luther Vandross and Tony Bennett have also proved an undeniable inspiration...

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Tenor saxophonist Dayna Stephens has been steadily making a name for himself as one of his generation’s most lauded instrumentalists and accomplished bandleaders. With a sinewy yet soothing tone, his playing is rich with melodic improvisations that veer from wild expansions to deliberately concise phrasing. His compositions often employ suspenseful and engrossing arrangements, but are complete with sing-able melodies. Although capable of fast and frenetic bursts, Stephens’ playing also recalls some of the major ballad players—such as Lester Young and Dexter Gordon—while the strains of great soul singers and balladeers such as Luther Vandross and Tony Bennett have also proved an undeniable inspiration. Stephens has become an indispensable band member for many and he has played alongside Brad Mehldau, Kenny Barron, Gretchen Parlato, and countless others. His all-star quartet on this date features Billy Childs on piano, Phillip Dizack on trumpet, Dave Robaire on bass, and Jonathan Pinson on drums. The New York Times writes of this “must see” bandleader, “everything flows…and makes you feel rewarded.”

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