Yussef Dayes
Sunday 19 May 2019 from 6pm to 7:30pm
Yussef Dayes
© Martin Argyroglo
The British drummer and percussionist Yussef Dayes, is part of this young generation of musicians who are reviving the London jazz scene. Late 2018 he recorded his first live solo entitled Love is The Message at legendary recording studio Abbey Road. Before he was a member of the group United Vibrations and one half of the celebrated jazz-funk duo Yussef Kamaal, formed with Kamaal Williams.
Collaborating with the jazz producer and musician Alfa Mist, alongside Mansur Brown on guitar and Rocco Palladino on bass, Yussef Dayes proposes a smooth and technical jazz. "Each beat surges through him like an electric shock, and sometimes you can’t tell if it’s him playing the drums or the drums playing him. He moves with an indefatigable vigour and dexterity, drawing beats from Sixties jazz, from bossa nova, from early dubstep, from J Dilla, from just about anywhere" (Telegraph-Journal).
Yussef Dayes
© Martin Argyroglo
Yussef Dayes is one of the UK’s most exciting, innovative young drummers and producers. Though largely considered a “jazz” drummer, his sound melds everything from 70s funk to Senegalese percussion to recent UK grime. The unifying factor is a fluid, vital energy.
Growing up in South East London, Yussef began his musician journey listening to his dad’s jazz records, and performing with his brothers from age 4. He’s gone on to study with the legendary Billy Cobham, and began regular gigging with his brothers in afrobeat and rock-influenced jazz outfit United Vibrations. He is also known for his collaboration with Kamaal Williams, creating the duet Yussef Kamaal in 2015. Following 2018’s ‘Love Is The Message’ - Yussef’s first solo release - 2019 is set to be his busiest year yet, with a debut solo album in the pipeline as well as collaborative projects across the board.