Premiering NYC Tenor saxophonist Dayna Stephens 
With Portland Artists Tom Sandahl, Okropong and “Shape Theory Project”

DETAILS:-
WHEN: Sunday April 23rd 2017; Doors open at 7:00pm; Performance starts at 7:30pm
WHERE: New Expressive Works, 810 SE Belmont, PDX 97214 [In the WYSE Buliding.]

New Expressive Works (N.E.W.) and LooseWig Jazz co-present an evening of jazz collaborations with music and movement artists. This 80-minute production features Dayna Stephens, tenor saxophonist from New York City. He will be accompanied by Tom Sandahl and they will improvise with Okropong drummers (Obo Addy Legacy Project) and movement artists from “Shape Theory Project”

ARTIST BIOS:-
Dayna Stephens
Since the release of his 2007 disc, The Timeless Now (CTA), Dayna Stephens has emerged as one of his generation’s most distinguished modern jazz tenor saxophonists and composers. He hones a sinewy yet supple tone that unfurls poised improvisations with melodic ingenuity.

Tom Sandahl
Guitarist Tom Sandahl is one of the most important emerging jazz voices in the Pacific Northwest. Tom’s innovative improvisational approach leads listeners along a delightfully surprising road dotted with delicious sounds and textures.

Okropong (Obo Addy Legacy Project)
Okropong means “eagle” in native Ga language. Tonight three performers from the group play traditional Ghanaian music chosen from the various ethnic cultures in Ghana, including Ga, Ewe, Ashanti, Dagomba and Dagarti. These musicians were trained in Ghana and have been sharing their culture with Portland for the past 20 years.

Shape Theory Project (led by Ruth Nelson)
Tonight’s Movers: Amanda Morse, Kelly Koltiska, Ivy Farrell, Jana Kristi Zahler and Ruth Nelson.
A native to Portland, Ruth Nelson, has trained in modern, ballet, jazz and tap. In the last few years she has focused on movement compositional improvisation, a practice of creating pieces in the moment with the only constraint being time itself. Nelson deepened her practice through the NEW residency program and today “Shape Theory Project” comprises of 5 women. Nelson continues to perform for local choreographers such as Muffie Connelly, Eliza Larson and Danielle Ross. 

About LooseWig Jazz
LooseWig Jazz is a house concert and jam session series, a jazz sextet and a venue for intimate jazz performances. Ben Fajen, LooseWig director is also a member of the board of directors for the Jazz Society of Oregon (JSO). 

About New Expressive Works (N.E.W.)
New Expressive Works (N.E.W.) celebrates the creative power of diverse professional independent performing artists, by providing critical studio space for artistic research, education, and public performances. N.E.W. is a vibrant space that annually supports over 200 independent performing artists and fosters cross-cultural dialogue. N.E.W.’s realistically and affordably priced studio spaces are venues where artists gather, create, and benefit from one another’s artistic expressions. 
http://www.newexpressiveworks.org