Event

Dayna Stephens Quartet

The Madison Jazz Festival kicks off with a special performance by the Dayna Stephens Quartet on Thursday, June 8, 2023 at Cafe CODA. Seating is general admission. Online ticket sales end 2 hours before showtime. Tickets are also available at the door beginning at 6:30pm. Ticket sales open May 3 at 10am. $20 advance / $25 door.

Dayna Stephens is globally recognized as a saxophonist, composer and arranger, and is the first place recipient of the 2019 DownBeat Critics Poll in the category Rising StarTenor Saxophone. Stephens has led a storied career travelling and recording with Kenny Barron, Brad Meldhau, Tom Harrell, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Fred Hersch, and Esperanza Spalding, among many others as well as leading the iconic Dayna Stephens Quartet. Now in its second iteration, the Quartet, featuring young, inspired musicians, represents a new chapter in jazz, and in Stephens career. One that embraces his role as a mentor, carrying on the legacy of the music while evolving it alongside the next generation.

NPRs Kevin Whitehead says: Dayna Stephens can cry and rip it up on tenor, but at heart, hes a streamlined melodic player. His handsome down-the-middle tone is not too heavy or light, though he can lean either way. His sound is sleek, with very light vibrato. And the lines he improvises are uncluttered and well-organized. His horn sings.