MUSIC

 New York's WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM and NPRmusic proudly present year two of The Checkout - Live at Berklee. Critically acclaimed, New York-based performers return to their Berklee roots and perform for the world from Boston's Cafe 939. Tonight's event features Dayna Stephens with Julian Lage, Kiyoshi Kitagawa, and Justin Brown.

See the action streamed live worldwide at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on NPRmusic.org and hear it in New York on WBGO Jazz 88.3 FM or wbgo.org. You can also listen to every show after its airdate archived at Checkoutjazz.org and NPRmusic.org.

Internationally renowned saxophonist, composer, and educator Dayna Stephens has been described as a fluid, vigorous soloist with a warm, soulful sound. He has also proven himself a master of composition and arrangement, a highly acclaimed bandleader, and an in-demand sideman for such contemporary jazz masters as Kenny Barron, Idris Muhammad, Taylor Eigsti, and Roy Hargrove.

Stephens releases two new albums in 2012. Today Is Tomorrow (Criss Cross 1345) features Aaron Parks, Mike Rodriguez, and Julian Lage, among others. His third release, That Nepenthetic Place (Sunnyside), features Ambrose Akinmusire, Taylor Eigsti, and Gretchen Parlato, among others. His debut, The Timeless Now (Contagious Music 2007), features John Scofield, Eigsti, Ben Street, Eric Harland, and Nick Vayenas; garnered four stars in the November 2007 DownBeat; and climbed to no. 11 on the Billboard jazz charts.

In recent years, Stephens has appeared on stage with numerous major musicians, including Terence Blanchard, Herbie Hancock, Albert "Tootie" Heath, Matt Wilson, Carlos Santana, Stefon Harris, Stevie Wonder, Lonnie Smith, Tom Harrell, Roy Hargrove, Gretchen Parlato, and many others. Stephens is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance.