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Rafael Enciso: Crossfade
by Jack Bowers
On Crossfade, his debut recording as leader, bassist Rafael Enciso wrests as much rhythmic and harmonic mileage as possible from what is basically a quartet date, using tenor saxphonist Dayna Stephens to add color and depth to one of his ten original compositions, organist Jahari Stampley to amplify two others. Elsewhere, Enciso and his companions paint with broad musical strokes, breathing life into his impressions of a “Waterfall," “Solstice," “Skipping Stones" and “Whirlpool," the last showcasing Enciso's resonant ...
Continue ReadingNoah Garabedian: Quartets and Solos
by Jack Bowers
If ever an album were in need of liner notes--or at least some further clarification--it is this one, Quartets and Solos, by New York-based bassist Noah Garabedian's quartet; or quintet, if one includes album producer Samuel Adams' special effects and programming. The playlist consists of 13 songs. According to a press release, they alternate “between eight conceptually stand-alone quartet compositions...and sharply focused solo features written specifically for each musician (including Adams)." There are two such showcases for every ...
Continue ReadingDayna Stephens, Emiliano D'Auria, Charles Lloyd, Jérémie Lucchese, James Newton
by Ludovico Granvassu
Here's a playlist featuring musicians paying tribute to where they come from, geographically or artistically.Happy listening!Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Emiliano D'Auria “Chasing the Flicker" The Baggage Room Vol.2--Meanwhile (Via Veneto Jazz) 0:16 Host talks 6:52 Dayna Stephens “Just You and Me Smoking the Evidence" Monk'D (Contagious) 8:37 Host talks 15:01 Charles Lloyd “Black Butterfly" Figure in Blue (Blue Note) 16:11 Jérémie Lucchese “Virga" Essais pour l'imaginaire--Vol. II ...
Continue ReadingEmiliano D'Auria: The Baggage Room Vol.2 – Meanwhile
by Angelo Leonardi
Meanwhile è il secondo capitolo del progetto The Baggage Room, la svolta espressiva del pianista marchigiano, che fonde la vivacità ritmica e timbrica del jazz contemporaneo statunitense con l'impronta melodica già espressa nello Jano Quartet. Registrato a Monaco di Baviera nel novembre 2024, l'album conferma la presenza del trombettista Philip Dizack e del sassofonista Dayna Stephens ma introduce una nuova sezione ritmica, nelle figure di Jacopo Ferrazza al contrabbasso e Kush Abadey alla batteria. L'ispirazione iniziale ...
Continue ReadingDayna Stephens: Monk'D
by Dan McClenaghan
A jazz artist stepping into the studio to record some Thelonious Monk can approach the task from different angles. They can go all in and make a statement with solely Monk tunes. Pianist Ran Blake's Epistrophy (Soul Note, 1991) is one example of this approach. Or the artist can pick one of their favorite Monk classics (or two or three) and present them alongside a batch of originals and/or tunes by other artists to create a set list. Almost everybody ...
Continue ReadingDayna Stephens, Allen Lowe, and the Millennial Territory Orchestra
by Jerome Wilson
This episode features music from Dayna Stephens, Allen Lowe, and Bob Dorough. It also includes the Millennial Territory Orchestra paying tribute to Sly Stone. Playlist Henry Threadgill Sextett “I Can't Wait Till I Get Home" from The Complete Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air (Mosaic) 00:00 Ethan Iverson “Technically Acceptable" from Technically Acceptable (Blue Note) 1:01 Resonance “Gaviota" from Introductions (Mandala) 5:17 Bob Dorough “Right On My Way Home from Right On My Way Home ...
Continue ReadingDayna Stephens: Closer Than We Think
by Jack Bowers
A few brief observations: first, New York-based Dayna Stephens is an excellent saxophonist. Second, the other members of his quartet on Closer Than We Think, Stephens' twelfth album as a leader, are similarly proficient. Third, Stephens clearly had a specific plan in mind before entering GB's Juke Joint to record the album in May 2023, one whose purpose, he writes, was to nurture a spirit of togetherness as an answer to today's divisive and fractured landscape. While ...
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