Dayna Stephens May 8, 2007

Settling into the Jazz at Pearl ’s Tuesday Residency chair beginning May 8 and throughout the month of May will be stirring young tenor saxophonist Dayna Stephens. Stephens is a deeply impressive musician, with a saxophone style that’s warm, heartfelt and direct. A graduate of Berklee School of Music and the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute, Stephens has long been a fixture on the Bay Area music scene, and for the past few years has been making his mark in New York City , as well. He’s performed recently with heavyweights like Kenny Barron, Oliver Lake and Josh Roseman.

Stephens recently released his first CD, The Timeless Now, featuring stars including John Scofield, Taylor Eigsti and Eric Harland. As the CD gains the national attention it’s sure to receive, Stephens’ star is sure to gain a speedy ascendance.

Famed guitarist John Scofield met Stephens when the young saxophonist was studying at the Monk Institute.

“Dayna was a great improviser,” Scofield recalled recently of that first meeting. “He could burn, but he could also play lyrically, and he had a nice warm sound on the saxophone. He and I had an immediate chemistry. The jazz improvisers I like best are not flashy, and for Dayna, it’s all about the music.”

As noted, Scofield was impressed enough to agree to appear on Stephens’ first CD, a substantial endorsement, to say the least.

Dayna Stephens will play at Jazz at Pearl ’s for four Tuesdays in May:

May 8 and May 22, Stephens will bring a fiery organ trio to Jazz at Pearl ’s, featuring B3 master Dave Mathews (who tours regularly with Etta James) and drummer Jeff Marrs.

May 15 and 29, Stephens lead a straight-ahead quartet featuring some of the Bay Area’s finest young jazz stars, including pianist Adam Shulman, bassist Devon Hoff and drummer Jeff Marrs.

For more information

Jazz at Pearl ’s is located at 256 Columbus Avenue, near Broadway, in the heart of San Francisco ’s historic North Beach District. Performances begin nightly at 8:00 and 10:00 pm, with doors opening at 7:30. For more information, please contact Jerry Karp at (415) 731-6468 or jerry@rocketwords.com. For more information about Jazz at Pearl ’s, please visit www.jazzatpearls.com

Official Website: http://www.jazzatpearls.com