Yussef Dayes
Yussef Dayes is a South London drummer, composer and producer whose music brings jazz, Caribbean rhythms and improvisation together.
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Yussef’s happenings, collected from public sources, plus his backstory and Starbook, where fans write.
Known for
Brownswood
Brownswood
Blue Note
YouTubeOverview
- From
- South East London, England
- Works as
- Drummer, composer and producer
- Early group
- United Vibrations
- Breakthrough
- Black Focus with Yussef Kamaal, 2016
- Solo debut
- Black Classical Music, 2023
Mini bio
How it started
Raised in South East London in a musical family, Yussef got his first drum kit at four. His father played bass, his brothers held jam sessions, and at ten he attended a course with drummer Billy Cobham.
Finding a sound
As a teenager he played in United Vibrations with his brothers Ahmad and Kareem and saxophonist Wayne Francis. In 2016 he joined keyboardist Kamaal Williams as Yussef Kamaal; their album Black Focus brought their music to a wider audience.
Making his own records
After collaborating with Tom Misch on What Kinda Music, Dayes released his debut solo studio album Black Classical Music in 2023. Its title track features saxophonist Venna and keyboardist Charlie Stacey, and the album won an Ivor Novello Award for Best Album.
Creditschronological, newest first
- 2026Live From Mt. FujiDrummer and bandleader
- 2025Lotus by Little SimzDrums on ‘Lotus’
- 2024Live From MalibuDrummer and bandleader
- 2023Black Classical MusicArtist, composer, drummer and producer
- 2020What Kinda MusicCo-artist with Tom Misch
- 2016Black FocusDrummer with Yussef Kamaal
Awards
Quotes
Other people had David Beckham: I had Billy Cobham.Yussef Dayes, The Guardian
On the drummer he admired growing up.
Trivia
- His father gave him his first drum kit when he was four.
- He played on Later… with Jools Holland with Aloe Blacc’s backing band while still in his GCSE year.
- The song ‘The Light’ is an ode to his daughter Bahia, whose voice appears on the track.
Find Yussef
Follow him for new music and live performances.
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