Dayna Stephens Swaps Sax for Bass

In a feature for No Treble, writer Kevin Johnson explores Monk’D, a daring project in which Dayna Stephens steps away from the saxophone to lead a quartet on double bass. Recorded in a single session at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, the album reimagines lesser-known compositions by Thelonious Monk through subtle structural shifts and a deeply personal lens. The article highlights Stephens’ long relationship with the bass and the intentional, historically grounded choices that shape the album’s sound and spirit.