Dayna Stephens visited us back in the Before Times, with a quartet co-led by pianist Billy Childs. (His stay was shortened by another catastrophe, though: wildfires in Sonoma that blocked the most direct route to SFO.) Since then, he’s released three more albums—two during the pandemic!—and taken first place in the “Rising Star – Tenor Saxophone” category of the prestigious 2019 DownBeat Critics Poll.
NPR’s Kevin Whitehead reckons that while Stephens “can cry and rip it up on tenor . . . at heart, he’s a streamlined melodic player” with a “handsome down-the-middle tone.” “His sound is sleek,” Whitehead says, his lines “uncluttered.” In short: “His horn sings.” Stephens freely admits that he’s always seeking what’s “singable,” and his search often results in compositions and improvisations that challenge traditional concepts of harmony, pushing the phrasing and bending beautiful melodies in unlikely directions.
Born in Brooklyn, raised in the Bay Area, Stephens has worked with everyone from Roy Hargrove to Carlos Santana, and his soulful melodicism has resonated through such renowned venues as the Village Vanguard, the Blue Note, Birdland, Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola, The Blue Whale, Le Duc des Lombards, Yoshi’s, Red Rocks, and SF Jazz. On this West Coast tour, which includes stops in Reno, Portland, Oakland, and LA, Stephens will be accompanied by pianist Aaron Parks, bassist Rick Rosato, and legendary drummer (and 2022 NEA Jazz Master) Billy Hart.
In-person tickets are $20 General Admission and $15 Students and Seniors. (Livestream tickets are $10, and livestream ticket-buyers will be emailed a private YouTube link the day of the show.) PLEASE NOTE: Advance Tickets are required for in-person admission to this show. The Arcata Playhouse will also adhere to strict protocols: no ticket holder will be admitted without a securely fitting mask and proof of up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination, and the venue will be limited to half capacity (70 people).
Sponsors
Our return to live, in-person performances is happening above all because of the steadfast support of RJA members and sponsors past and present, and because of the creativity and determination of our venue partner, the Arcata Playhouse. Special thanks to Bug Press and to Jane Crosbie, Ron Samuels & Kelly Livingston (and Marimba One), and Bob & Amy Doran.