Renowned and gifted multi-instrumentalist Yussef Dayes has been a key player on the London jazz scene for a long time. He has recently announced his debut solo album, Black Classical Music, releasing on September 8th through Brownswood Recordings, Warners and Cashmere Thoughts Recordings. Speaking about his upcoming album, Dayes comments:

“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 & limitless in its potential. The groove, it’s feeling, the compositions, the spontaneity, with a love for family, the discipline & 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.”

Alongside the news, Dayes has unveiled the utterly brilliant title track, ‘Black Classical Music’,  featuring Venna and Charlie Stacey. It comes with an accompanying video directed by Barka and you can watch it below.