Yussef Dayes returns to his roots with ‘Back To The Origins’, a 54-minute musical journey through Ethiopia, released on November 5th, 2026. Filmed in Ethiopia, the project brings together the South London drummer’s unmistakable rhythmic style with the rich traditions of Ethiopian music.
Joined by local musicians, including the Gun Gun Traditional Band, Dayes explores the connections between contemporary jazz, Ethio-jazz, traditional rhythms and improvisation. The result is a vibrant meeting of musical cultures, driven by intricate percussion, hypnotic grooves and a strong sense of place.
Created in collaboration with filmmaker Jason “Barka” Gray, the film also features previously unreleased music recorded in Ethiopia.
An accompanying album is expected to follow. I’ll share the details here as soon as an official release date is confirmed.
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