Sebastian writes: Congratulations to Ezra Collective (Femi Koleoso, TJ Koleoso, Ife Ogunjobi, James Mollison and Joe Armon-Jones) for bringing to an finish one of many longest waits in British music…all of thirty-one years…

The Mercury Prize was based in 1992, and jazz teams have been nominated in most years, and have tended to be thought of as a “token” presence. However final night time, on the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith was the primary time a jazz group has really gained. Ezra Collective got the prize for his or her second full album “The place I Need to Be” (Partisan).

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Right here is the jury quotation: “Virtuosity, group, listening to one another to work out the place to go subsequent… who knew that such seemingly old style values would come to the fore on the profitable album of the 2023 Mercury Prize with FREENOW? It wasn’t straightforward to decide on an general winner from such an eclectic and thrilling record, however in the end the judges had been unanimous: Ezra Collective, the London five-piece made up of Femi Koleoso on drums, TJ Koleoso on bass, Joe-Armon Jones on keys, James Mollison on saxophone and Ife Ogunjobi on trumpet are a residing argument for placing the hours in, attaining musical brilliance, and tapping right into a joyous spirit that ensures their album is as enjoyable as it’s spectacular.  The British jazz renaissance of the previous decade has been one of the vital developments in trendy music. Now, ‘The place I’m Meant To Be’, with its touches of reggae, soul, Latin and Afrobeats, its name and response riffs and rhythmic depth, is a landmark not just for jazz, however for modern music generally.”

“If a jazz band profitable the Mercury prize doesn’t make you imagine in God, nothing will,”(*) Femi Koleoso mentioned final night time. “We met in a youth membership. This second we’re celebrating proper right here is testimony to good, particular folks placing effort and time into [helping] younger folks to play music … let’s proceed to help that,” he additionally expressed his appreciation for the decisive help the band themselves had acquired from Tomorrow’s Warriors and Kinetika Bloco.

Quoting from Dan Bergsagel’s 2019 assessment of the band dwell at Poisson Rouge in NYC (hyperlink to our protection under):

“The tenor and trumpet led out on stage, collectively a name to arms, and the remainder of the Ezra Collective bounded on quickly after – the group able to certain alongside, too. It was the beginning of the night’s journey, intently curated by the collective on the best way, from Kenny Dorham to Solar Ra, by way of Skepta and Kendrick Lamar.

A blistering “Area is the Place” is a euphoric marker, with an influence sax intro and free-wheeling bass backing. We had dub Purple Wine and a vital afro beat encore, all the time with time in a set for slower moments with variation in temper – a lone trumpet main in Folks in Bother with a ponderous well-structured solo. However what makes Ezra Collective stand out is the best way they play collectively: once they nail a post-drum-solo drop, or once they all dump their devices and collect in to crowd and dance round Armon-Jones‘s keys.

There’s loads of outdated pal love on show and a brotherly bond, however the core of the band is within the understanding between the organ vamp and Femi Koleoso‘s shockingly crisp rhythms. The best way Koleoso waves the horns out of his means so he can get a transparent view of Armon-Jones feels prefer it reveals a lot. With TJ Koleoso‘s bass concerned too there’s an actual energy groove borne on this axis of stares.

It could be the camaraderie, the sensation of being a part of a much bigger social music motion, or simply the massive sound, nevertheless it looks like Ezra Collective are actually on the entrance of a younger London’s reply to Kamasi Washington’s West Coast Get Down. It’s nonetheless eclectic and epic, however this model is enjoyable and trustworthy and actual. Much less pageantry, and never so bloody critical.“

(*) quoted from the Guardian’s information piece and report.

LINK: LJN protection of Ezra Collective
Ezra Collective on Bandcamp