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Jazz Articles about Dayna Stephens
Emiliano D'Auria: The Baggage Room
by Angelo Leonardi
Dopo le atmosfere cantabili e un po' algide del precedente First Rain--registrato in Norvegia col suo stabile quintetto--Emiliano D'Auria va a New York e s'immerge nel tumulto jazzistico contemporaneo guidando una formazione col sassofonista Dayna Stephens, il trombettista Philip Dizack, il contrabbassista Rick Rosato e il batterista Kweku Sumbry. Anche se stilisticamente ha espresso affinità col jazz nord-europeo, il pianista e compositore marchigiano non ha smesso di seguire gli sviluppi di quello statunitense e in questo progetto ne ...
Continue ReadingLux Quartet: Tomorrowland
by Vincenzo Roggero
Tomorrowland è il debutto di un quartetto all stars formalmente accreditato alla coppia Myra Melford--Allison Miller, completato dal sassofonista Dayna Stephens e dal bassista Scott Colley. Quattro grandi personalità, quattro protagonisti a diverso titolo della scena improvvisativa nordamericana, quattro interpreti sopraffini degli otto brani contenuti in Tomorrowland. Le tre composizioni a nome Melford sono caratterizzate dalla complessità delle trame, da improvvisazioni tutt'altro che lineari, da movimenti a scacchiera che confluiscono in incastri perfetti, da improvvisi sbalzi d'umore. La ...
Continue ReadingPhilip Weberndoerfer: Tides
by Richard J Salvucci
"For myself, music has continuously been a safe shore during turbulent times, and for that I'm deeply grateful. In Tides I see the opportunity to share this warm feeling of solace, and want to invite the listeners to open their minds and let their spirits flow freely." This is Philip Weberndoerfer's own take on Tides, and a more accurate characterization would be hard to find. Together with bassist Richard Mikel, drummer Peter Traunmueller and saxophonist Dayna Stephens, Webendoerfer weaves a ...
Continue ReadingLux Quartet: Tomorrowland
by Jerome Wilson
Lux Quartet is a new combination of four musicians who are all part of the more progressive branch of the jazz world, pianist Myra Melford: drummer Allison Miller, saxophonist Dayna Stephens and bassist Scott Colley. All four members contribute compositions to the band on this album which show off different facets of what the band is capable of. Melford brings in three pieces. “Intricate Drift" has the sax and piano navigate a swirling, angular melody while the bass ...
Continue ReadingAlexis Valet: Following The Sun
by Geannine Reid
Alexis Valet's Following the Sun, is an enjoyable collection of contemporary jazz inspired by Valet's journey across continents--from the luminous streets of Paris to the bustling avenues of New York. Central to the success of Following the Sun is the symbiotic relationship between Valet and his fellow musicians: Dayna Stephens tenor saxophone, Aaron Parks piano, Joe Martin double bass and Kush Abadey drums. Each brings virtuosity and their unique voice to the compositions, creating a recording that feels ...
Continue ReadingKarl-Henrik Ousbäck: Confluence
by C. Andrew Hovan
Drummers do not always get the respect they deserve and yet, in a jazz context, their contributions are an integral part in the overall success of the music. Aside from genre leaders such as Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, and Art Blakey, relatively few drummer-led sessions have entered into the upper echelon of recorded jazz history. However, those who cast a wider net will probably remember that drummers Art Taylor, Bill English, Grady Tate, Joe Chambers, and Roy Brooks ...
Continue ReadingBilly Drummond and Freedom of Ideas: Valse Sinistre
by Jack Bowers
As one of the world's foremost jazz drummers, Billy Drummond manages to keep busy--so much so that Valse Sinistre, recorded in November 2021, is his first album as leader in more than twenty-five years, following the critically acclaimed Dubai from 1996. This time around, Drummond is at the helm of his Freedom of Ideas quartet: Micah Thomas on piano; Dezron Douglas on bass; and Dayna Stephens on saxophones. Even though he is the nominal leader, Drummond doesn't ...
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