Dayna Stephens
Dayna Stephens (born August 1, 1978) is an American jazz saxophonist and composer. In addition to leading his own group, Stephens has performed extensively with Kenny Barron, Ambrose Akinmusire, Taylor Eigsti, Julian Lage, Eric Harland, and Gerald Clayton. Stephens grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and attended Berkeley High School.
Dayna Stephens

Schorle · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Name
- Dayna Stephens
- Born
- 1 August 1978
- Birthplace
- Brooklyn, New York
- Occupation
- Musician
- Nationality
- United States
- Fields
- jazz
- Education
- Berklee College of Music
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Documentary summary
Dayna Stephens (born August 1, 1978) is an American jazz saxophonist and composer. In addition to leading his own group, Stephens has performed extensively with Kenny Barron, Ambrose Akinmusire, Taylor Eigsti, Julian Lage, Eric Harland, and Gerald Clayton. Stephens grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and attended Berkeley High School.
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wikidata · Q16217642 · wikipedia · Dayna Stephens
In this article
Biography
Biography
He went on to study at the Berklee School of Music and later at the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz. Stephens's albums include The Timeless Now (2007), Today Is Tomorrow (2012), That Nepenthetic Place (2013), I'll Take My Chances (2013), and Peace (2014). Peace features guitarist Julian Lage, pianist Brad Mehldau, bassist Larry Grenadier, and drummer Eric Harland. Gratitude was released in 2017.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Dayna Stephens • Born — 1 August 1978 • Birthplace — Brooklyn, New York • Genre — Jazz • Occupation — Musician • Instrument — Saxophone, EWI • Years Active — 2000s–present • Website — daynastephenssound.com
As leader
As leader
• The Timeless Now (CTA, 2007) • A Week Ago Today (Prophone, 2011) • Today Is Tomorrow (Criss Cross, 2012) • I'll Take My Chances (Criss Cross, 2013) • That Nepenthetic Place (Sunnyside, 2013) • Peace (Sunnyside, 2014) • New Day (Vegamusic, 2014) • Reminiscent (Criss Cross, 2015) • Gratitude (Contagious Music, 2017) • Right Now! (Contagious Music, 2020) • Liberty (Contagious Music, 2020) • Closer Than We Think (Cellar Live under / La Reserve Records, LLCC, 2024) • Hopium (Contagious Music, 2025) • Monk'd (Contagious Music, 2025)
As sideman
As sideman
• Kenny Barron, Concentric Circles (Blue Note, 2018) • David Berkman, Old Friends and New Friends (Palmetto, 2015) • David Berkman, Six of One (Palmetto, 2019) • Massimo Biolcati, Incontre (Sounderscore, 2020) • Gerald Clayton, Life Forum (Concord Jazz, 2013) • Gerald Clayton, Tributary Tales (Motema, 2017) • Joe Cohn, Marathon Man (Vegamusic, 2014) • Dan Cray, Outside In (Origin, 2016) • Jeff Denson, "Outside My Window" (Ridgeway Records, 2019) • Al Foster, Inspirations & Dedications (Smoke Sessions, 2019) • Danny Grissett, Remembrance (Savant, 2017) • Allison Miller, Science Fair (Sunnyside, 2018) • Linda Oh, Initial Here (Greenleaf Music, 2012) • Gretchen Parlato, The Lost and Found (Obliqsound, 2011) • Phil Ranelin, Inspiration (Wide Hive 2004) • Matt Slocum, Black Elk's Dream (Chandra, 2014) • Paul Zarzyski, Collisions of Reckless Love (Open Path Music 2006)
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Dayna Stephens”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q16217642: Dayna Stephens
General reference · Wikidata
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Studied at
1- Berklee College of MusicOrganisation
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 19 August 2026.
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