Black Classical Music

Black Classical Music is the debut solo album by English drummer and record producer Yussef Dayes. It was released on 8 September 2023 through Brownswood Recordings and Nonesuch Records. It includes guest appearances from Shabaka Hutchings, Tom Misch, Chronixx, Masego, Jahaan Sweet and Leon Thomas, among others, and a posthumous appearance from Barbara Hicks. The album received acclaim from critics.

Black Classical Music
A photo of Dayes as a youth standing in a garden
Studio album by
Yussef Dayes
Released8 September 2023 (2023-09-08)
GenreJazz
Length73:54
Label
Producer
Yussef Dayes chronology
What Kinda Music
(2020)		 Black Classical Music
(2023)

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic86/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
The Arts Desk[3]
Clash8/10[4]
PopMatters8/10[5]
Sputnikmusic3.5/5[6]
Uncut8/10[7]

Black Classical Music received a score of 86 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on five critics' reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[1] Thom Jurek of AllMusic described the album as "sprawling" and "a culmination of his aesthetic travels, and points squarely at his goal: a seamless musical whole", concluding that the "music is lush, advanced, and welcoming, and comes off without a trace of bloat or conceit. This is easily a top pick for best albums of 2023".[2] Uncut called it "an expansive, soulful set that embraces modern West Coast fusion, Hancock-style funk, psychedelic soul-jazz and more".[7]

John Garratt of PopMatters wrote that Dayes "takes the listener on a highly groovy and ultimately fulfilling ride through the peaks and valleys inside of [his] musical brain".[5] Clash's Robin Murray concluded that "taken as a whole, however, Black Classical Music is a unique experience, a true journey, the musical autobiography of a musician central to the ongoing development of UK jazz".[4] A staff review at Sputnikmusic remarked that the album is "packed with so many details and flourishes that AI won't be able to generate anything of its ilk until quantum computing develops itself".[6]

Track listing
Black Classical Music track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Black Classical Music" (featuring Venna and Charlie Stacey)5:19
2."Afro Cubanism"2:45
3."Raisins Under the Sun" (featuring Shabaka Hutchings)4:31
4."Rust" (featuring Tom Misch)3:58
5."Turquoise Galaxy"3:11
6."The Light" (featuring Bahia Dayes)5:40
7."Pon di Plaza" (featuring Chronixx)3:49
8."Magnolia Symphony"1:37
9."Early Dayes"0:34
10."Chasing the Drum"5:40
11."Birds of Paradise"4:09
12."Gelato"4:46
13."Marching Band" (featuring Masego)4:44
14."Crystal Palace Park" (featuring Elijah Fox)2:32
15."Presidential" (featuring Jahaan Sweet)2:42
16."Jukebox"2:39
17."Woman's Touch" (featuring Jamilah Barry)3:31
18."Tioga Pass" (featuring Rocco Palladino)7:56
19."Cowrie Charms" (featuring Leon Thomas and Barbara Hicks)3:51
Total length:73:54

Charts
Chart performance for Black Classical Music
Chart (2023) Peak
position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[8] 73
Scottish Albums (OCC)[9] 15
UK Albums (OCC)[10] 37
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[11] 4
UK Jazz & Blues Albums (OCC)[12] 1

References
  1. "Black Classical Music by Yusef Dayes". Metacritic. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  2. Jurek, Thom. "Yussef Dayes – Black Classical Music Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  3. Scotney, Sebastian (2 September 2023). "Top drummer and band deliver a sprawling album". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  4. Murray, Robin (18 September 2023). "Yussef Dayes – Black Classical Music | Reviews". Clash. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  5. Garratt, John (12 September 2023). "Yussef Dayes' Debut Is an Enormous Statement of His Talent". PopMatters. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  6. Rugallini, Miloslaw Archibald (15 September 2023). "Review: Yussef Dayes – Black Classical Music". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  7. "Yussef Dayes – Black Classical Music". Uncut. November 2023. p. 26.
  8. "Ultratop.be – Yussef Dayes – Black Classical Music" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  9. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  10. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  11. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  12. "Official Jazz & Blues Albums Chart Top 30". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
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