What Kinda Music

Released in 2020 on Blue Note, What Kinda Music represents a pivotal collaborative milestone between guitarist Tom Misch and drummer Yussef Dayes. While Misch brought the melodic sensibilities that defined his debut Geography, Dayes introduced a complex, broken-beat jazz language that pushed the project into more experimental territory. The album was largely born from improvisational jam sessions, most notably the track 'Kyiv', which was recorded on a single roll of spare tape in Ukraine. Sonically, the record is defined by its heavy use of reverb and vintage production techniques, spearheaded by Misch himself to create a 'saturated' and 'warm' aesthetic. It features notable contributions from bassist Rocco Palladino and a standout guest verse from Freddie Gibbs. Critics noted the synergy between Misch's 'Instagram-trendy' guitar tones and Dayes' technical prowess, marking it as a definitive document of the contemporary London jazz scene's crossover appeal.