Dayna Stephens (born August 1, 1978) is an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

saxophonist and composer. In addition to leading his own group, Stephens has performed extensively with

Kenny Barron Kenny Barron (born June 9, 1943) is an American jazz pianist, who has appeared on hundreds of recordings as leader and sideman and is considered one of the most influential mainstream jazz pianists since the bebop era. Biography Born in Philadel ...

, Ambrose Akinmusire,

Taylor Eigsti Taylor Eigsti (born September 24, 1984) is an American jazz pianist and composer. Eigsti's trio features bassist Harish Raghavan and drummer Eric Harland. He is also a member of Eric Harland Voyager, Kendrick Scott Oracle, and Gretchen Parlato's ...

Julian Lage Julian Lage ( ; born December 25, 1987) is an American guitarist and composer. Career A child prodigy, Lage was the subject of the 1996 short documentary film ''Jules at Eight''. At 12, he performed at the 2000 Grammy Awards. Three years later ...

, Eric Harland, and

Gerald Clayton Gerald William Clayton (born May 11, 1984) is a Dutch-born American jazz pianist, composer and bandleader. Biography Clayton attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts; USC's Thornton School of Music, where he studied piano with ...

. Stephens grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and attended Berkeley High School. He went on to study at the

Berklee School of Music Berklee College of Music is a private music college in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern American music, it also offers college-level cours ...

and later at the

Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz The Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz is a non-profit music education organization founded in 1986. Before 2019, it was known as the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, but was then renamed after its longtime board chairman, Herbie Hancock. The i ...

. Stephens's albums include ''The Timeless Now'' (2007), ''Today Is Tomorrow'' (2012), ''That Nepenthetic Place'' (2013), ''I'll Take My Chances'' (2013), and ''

Peace Peace is a concept of societal friendship and harmony in the absence of hostility and violence. In a social sense, peace is commonly used to mean a lack of conflict (such as war) and freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups. ...

'' (2014). ''Peace'' features guitarist Julian Lage, pianist

Brad Mehldau Bradford Alexander Mehldau (; born August 23, 1970) is an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. Mehldau studied music at The New School, and toured and recorded while still a student. He was a member of saxophonist Joshua Redman's Qua ...

, bassist

Larry Grenadier Larry Grenadier (born February 6, 1966 in San Francisco) is an American jazz double bassist. Early life Grenadier's father, Albert, was a trumpet player, and his two brothers, Phil and Steve, play trumpet and guitar, respectively. Grenadier be ...

, and drummer Eric Harland. ''

Gratitude Gratitude, thankfulness, or gratefulness is from the Latin word ''gratus,'' which means "pleasing" or "thankful." Is regarded as a feeling of appreciation (or similar positive response) by a recipient of another's kindness. This can be gifts, h ...

'' was released in 2017.

Discography

As leader

* ''The Timeless Now'' (CTA, 2007) * ''A Week Ago Today'' (Prophone, 2011) * ''Today Is Tomorrow'' (Criss Cross, 2012) * ''I'll Take My Chances'' (Criss Cross, 2013) * ''That Nepenthetic Place'' (Sunnyside, 2013) * ''

'' (Sunnyside, 2014) * ''New Day'' (Vegamusic, 2014) * ''Reminiscent'' (Criss Cross, 2015) * ''

'' (Contagious Music, 2017) * ''Right Now!'' (Contagious Music, 2020) * ''Liberty'' (Contagious Music, 2020)

As sideman

, ''Concentric Circles'' (Blue Note, 2018) *

David Berkman David Berkman (born December 28, 1958) is an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger and educator. Background Berkman grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, playing in house bands for visiting jazz musicians Sonny Stitt, Hank Crawford, and Carter Jeffe ...

, ''Old Friends and New Friends'' (Palmetto, 2015) * David Berkman, ''Six Of One'' (Palmetto, 2019) *

Massimo Biolcati Massimo Biolcati (born 1972) is a Swedish-Italian-American jazz bassist who is a member of Gilfema and the Lionel Loueke Trio. Biography He is a founding member of Gilfema, a trio with Hungarian drummer Ferenc Nemeth and West African guitari ...

, ''Incontre'' (Sounderscore, 2020) *

, ''Life Forum'' (Concord Jazz, 2013) * Gerald Clayton, ''Tributary Tales'' (Motema, 2017) *

Joe Cohn Joseph Mark Cohn (born December 28, 1956) is an American jazz guitarist. Career The son of Al Cohn, he started to play the guitar in his teens, transcribing from recordings featuring Art Tatum, Thad Jones, and Clifford Brown. Besides taking les ...

, ''Marathon Man'' (Vegamusic, 2014) * Dan Cray, ''Outside In'' (Origin, 2016) *

Al Foster Aloysius Tyrone Foster (born January 18, 1943) is an American jazz drummer. Foster's professional career began in the mid-60s, when he played and recorded with hard bop and swing musicians including Blue Mitchell and Illinois Jacquet. Foster ...

, ''Inspirations & Dedications'' (Smoke Sessions, 2019) *

Danny Grissett Danny Grissett (born 1975) is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer. Early life Grissett was born in Los Angeles in 1975. He first played the piano at the age of five, taking classical music lessons. He graduated with a B.A. in M ...

, ''Remembrance'' (Savant, 2017) * Allison Miller, ''Science Fair'' (Sunnyside, 2018) *

Linda Oh Linda May Han Oh (born 25 August 1984) is an Australian jazz bassist and composer. Biography Oh was raised in Western Australia. When she was 11, she started to play the clarinet and at the age of 13 bassoon. She went to Churchlands Senior Hi ...

, ''Initial Here'' (Greenleaf Music, 2012) *

Gretchen Parlato Gretchen Parlato (born February 11, 1976) is an American jazz singer. She has performed and recorded with musicians such as Wayne Shorter, Herbie Hancock, Kenny Barron, Esperanza Spalding, Terence Blanchard, Marcus Miller and Lionel Loueke. Pa ...

, ''The Lost and Found'' (Obliqsound, 2011) *

Phil Ranelin Phil Ranelin (born May 25, 1939) is an American jazz and experimental music trombonist. Career Ranelin was born in Indianapolis and lived in New York City before moving to Detroit in the 1960s. He played as a session musician on many Motown rec ...

, ''Inspiration'' (Wide Hive 2004) *

Matt Slocum Matt Slocum (born 27 December 1972) is a guitarist, cellist, pianist and composer, known for his work as the principal songwriter and lead guitarist of Sixpence None the Richer. Biography Born in Rhode Island to Joseph and Hildegard Slocum, ...

, ''Black Elk's Dream'' (Chandra, 2014) * Paul Zarzyski, ''Collisions of Reckless Love'' (Open Path Music 2006)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stephens, Dayna 1978 births American jazz composers American male jazz composers American jazz saxophonists American male saxophonists Berklee College of Music alumni Living people People from the San Francisco Bay Area 21st-century American saxophonists 21st-century American male musicians Sunnyside Records artists Criss Cross Jazz artists