Originally released in limited quantities through Rough Trade Records back in December 2023, and now more broadly released through Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood label, London-based drummer phenomenon Yussef Dayes and his stellar quintet return with another brilliant live session, performing music from last year’s highly acclaimed Black Classical Music album, new originals and a superb cover of Jaco Pistorius’ “Portrait of Tracy”.

Recorded in a similar peaceful outdoor setting to last year’s Soulection Live at Joshua Tree session, the group featuring Dayes on drums, bassist Rocco Palladino, saxophonist Malik Venna, keyboardist Elijah Fox, and percussionist Alexander Bourt perform eight tracks that blend together cosmic grooves, jazz-funk rhythms, and soulful spiritual textures and tones. Like the surrounding setting, the music has an overall meditative vibe throughout. The EP also includes a flawless medley of “Black Classical Music” and “Afro Cubanism” that arguably might even be more impressive than the studio album versions (and I never thought I would say that).

Overall, another perfectly captured live recording from one of the collectively most talented groups and bandleaders right now on the UK jazz scene.

WATCH ‘LIVE FROM MALIBU’ SESSION

The Yussef Dayes Experience — ‘Live From Malibu’
(Brownswood)

1. Istanbul (feat. Elijah Fox)
2. Tioga Pass (feat. Rocco Palladino) [Live From Malibu]
3. Tidal Wave [Live From Malibu]
4. Portrait Of Tracy
5. Black Classical Music (feat. Venna) / Afro Cubanism [Live from Malibu]
6. Malibu
7. Mountain Steppa
8. The Colour Purple

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• Jazz
• Jazz Funk
• Spiritual Jazz