Excessive heat, flood warnings, and a rescheduled date didn’t stop fans from gathering at the Capital One City Parks SummerStage in Central Park on August 2 to see London-born drummer Yussef Dayes and his band, the Yussef Dayes Experience, for an evening that was all about rhythm and vibrations. Dayes took on double duties, performing with his namesake group and with saxophonist Venna’s group earlier in the day. The groups were joined by Thai drummer Salin and French multi-instrumentalist FKJ rounding out a diverse lineup of explorative players.
The date, originally scheduled for Thursday July 31, was rescheduled amidst city-wide cancellations in the face of flood warnings and recent waves of excessive heat. The date change didn’t stop fans from packing out the ticketed show in benefit of the City Parks Foundation, who hosts the annual series that is packed with free programs.
The show was stopped twice to address audience members who collapsed — first during saxophonist Venna’s set early in the day. “We need some help,” Venna beckoned to security, before personnel rushed to the audience to aid the attendee. “Look out for each other out there,” he reminded the audience.
Nonetheless, attendees were in good spirits as they witnessed cultural connection and virtuosic intensity unfold onstage. Dayes appeared alongside Venna, who is set to release new music in September, participating in a laid-back set of soulful funk fusion. FKJ took to the stage soon after and utilized live-sampling, piano playing, and vocals in his performance. During FKJ’s set, Dayes was spotted by the port-o-potties in the back of the venue space, signing autographs and taking pictures with fans before heading backstage. “We made it,” he told the AmNews, in reference to the weather-related challenges.
As the sun set, Dayes’ drums were moved up to the front and center of the stage. The lights went blue, and the tone was set for ‘The Experience’s’ headlining performance. Dayes’ band consisted of Venna, bassist Rocco Palladino (son of legendary bassist Pino Palladino) and keyboardist Elijah Fox, who were joined later in the night by special guests Jacob McGibbon on guitar and FKJ on piano. The group performed selections from Dayes’ 2023 debut solo album “Black Classical Music” which explores the pantheon of styles that developed from the African diaspora, including jazz, funk, soul, salsa, and reggae.
The drummer, who is of Jamaican descent, tested the limits of rhythm, exploring the seemingly infinite possibilities of the drums and at times even manipulating the tonal qualities of the instrument in unusual ways, like by placing his hands on different parts of the skin to change the drum’s pitch. The musicians, all master improvisers, expanded Dayes’ compositional landscapes into universes of sound that reimagine the rich history of Black music. Tunes like “Afro-Cubanism,” “Birds of Paradise,” and “Black Classical Music” serve as transport while Dayes and his band’ served as transporters, taking audience members on a groove-filled journey through time and space.
The music looks ahead as much as it looks backwards, honoring history while exploring new music possibilities –– proving again that tradition and innovation co-exist harmoniously.
For info on upcoming SummerStage programming, visit cityparksfoundation.org/summerstage.