As a 2003 graduate of the Thelonious Monk Institute, Stephens had the opportunity to work with the likes of Dave Holland, Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock, who helped strengthen his complex sensibility as a composer and improviser. In recent years Dayna has appeared with the likes of Carlos Santana, Kenny Barron, Terence Blanchard, Gretchen Parlato and many others.
PERSONNEL:
DAYNA STEPHENS, tenor sax
MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ, trumpet, flugelhorn (2, 6)
JULIAN LAGE, guitar (4, 6, 7)
RAFFI GARABEDIAN, tenor sax (3)
AARON PARKS, piano
KIYOSHI KITAGAWA, bass
DONALD EDWARDS, drums
Recorded in New York, October 27, 2011.
Tracks:
01.Skylark
02. Kwooked Stweet
03.Radio-Active Earworm
04.De Pois Do Amor, O Vazio
05. Loosy Goosy
06. Black Narcissus
07. Haden’s Largo
08. Hard-Boiled Wonderland
09. The Elite
10. Cartoon Element