Yussef Dayes will release his debut album in September.
Across 19 tracks, Black Classical Music is anchored by Dayes’ distinctive drum licks and Rocco Palladino’s bass. The album also features Charlie Stacey on keys and synths; Venna on saxophone; Alexander Bourt on percussion; and a whole host of others including Chronixx, Masego, Tom Misch, and the Chineke! Orchestra, the first professional orchestra in Europe to be made up of majority Black and ethnically diverse musicians.
Dayes introduces the album in his own words:
“What is jazz? Where did the word derive from? Birthed in New Orleans, born in the belly of the Mississippi River, rooted in the gumbo pot of the Caribbean, South American culture, African rituals. Continuing a lineage of Miles Davis, Rahssan Roland Kirk, Nina Simone, John Coltrane, Louis Armstrong; music that is forever evolving and limitless in its potential. The groove, its feeling, the compositions, the spontaneity, with a love for family, the discipline and dedication in maintaining the very high bar set by the pantheon of Black Classical Musicians. Chasing the rhythm of drums that imitated one’s heartbeat, the melodies for the mind and spirit, the bass for the core. A Regal sound for this body of music.”
The album lands on Brownswood Recordings.
Yussef Dayes was one half of Yussef Kamaal with keyboardist Kamaal Williams. More recently, Dayes released Live At Joshua Tree, an EP presented by Soulection.
Tracklisting
01. Black Classical Music feat. Venna & Charlie Stacey
02. Afro Cubanism
03. Raisins Under The Sun feat. Shabaka Hutchings
04. Rust feat. Tom Misch
05. Turquoise Galaxy
06. The Light feat. Bahia Dayes
07. Pon Di Plaza feat. Chronixx
08. Magnolia Symphony
09. Early Dayes
10. Chasing The Drum
11. Birds of Paradise
12. Gelato
13. Marching Band feat. Masego
14. Crystal Palace Park feat. Elijah Fox
15. Presidential feat. Jahaan Sweet
16. Jukebox
17. Woman’s Touch feat. Jamilah Barry
18. Tioga Pass ft. Rocco Palladino
19. Cowrie Charms feat. Leon Thomas & Barbara Hicks
Black Classical Music LP is scheduled for September 8 release. Meanwhile, you can stream “Rust” featuring Tom Misch in full below and pre-order here.
