Yussef Kamaal confirm split

Just one week after winning the ‘Breakthrough Act’ category at the Jazz FM Awards, young British jazz duo Yussef Kamaal have confirmed they will no longer perform together, and only one of them will appear at London’s Koko venue tonight (Thursday).

Just five weeks ago, the Independent newspaper wrote of them: “It’s rare to see this type of volatile, virtually unspoken chemistry. When you see the south London duo play together, with that preternatural ability to predict and effortlessly follow whichever direction the other is about to fly off into, you’d think they had been playing together for a lifetime.”

Rumours had been circulating after Yussef Dayes and Kamaal Williams posted then deleted a number of social media posts, but today the news was made official via the boys’ record label. A statement from Brownswood Recordings (run by Gilles Peterson) reads: “We are sad to confirm that Yussef Dayes and Kamaal Williams will no longer be performing together as Yussef Kamaal. All live dates will be honoured, with new band line ups - check local promoters for details. Tonight’s show at Koko has been re-billed as the Kamaal Williams Ensemble presents Black Focus.”

Yussef Dayes wrote on his personal page: Blessings family & friends, I won't be performing tomorrow at Koko, and I will no longer be performing with Kamaal Williams. All the remaining Yussef Kamaal shows, will be split and there'll be a further announcement on that soon. Much love to everyone for support!”

The duo recently made headlines around the world because members of the band were denied entry to the USA.