Topzle Topzle

Ezra Collective

Updated: Wikipedia source

Ezra Collective

Ezra Collective are a British jazz quintet composed of drummer and bandleader Femi Koleoso, bassist TJ Koleoso, keyboardist Joe Armon-Jones, trumpeter Ife Ogunjobi, and tenor saxophonist James Mollison, who met at the jazz youth programme Tomorrow's Warriors and formed their group soon afterwards. The group fuses elements of afrobeat, calypso, reggae, hip-hop, soul and jazz, and frequently collaborates with fellow London-based jazz musicians such as Nubya Garcia and Moses Boyd. They were the recipients of the 2023 Mercury Music Prize. Their 2024 single "God Gave Me Feet for Dancing" was chosen by Barack Obama for his list of 25 favourite songs of the year. At the Brit Awards 2025, the Ezra Collective became the first jazz band to win the "Group of the Year" accolade.

Infobox

Origin
London, England
Genres
mw- .inline, .inline dl, .inline ol, .inline ul, dl dl, dl ol, dl ul, ol dl, ol ol dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd ol li Jazzhip hopAfrobeat
Instruments
Drumskeyboardsbasstenor saxophonetrumpet
Years active
2016–present
Labels
Enter the JunglePartisan Records
Members
Femi Koleoso TJ Koleoso Ife Ogunjobi James Mollison Joe Armon-Jones
Past members
Dylan Jones
Website
ezracollective.com

Tables

List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions · Discography › Studio albums
UK
UK
Title
UK
You Can't Steal My Joy
You Can't Steal My Joy
Title
You Can't Steal My Joy
Details
Released: 26 April 2019 Label: Enter the Jungle Format: CD, digital download, vinyl
Peak chart positions
70
Where I'm Meant to Be
Where I'm Meant to Be
Title
Where I'm Meant to Be
Details
Released: 4 November 2022 Label: Partisan Records Format: CD, digital download, vinyl
Peak chart positions
24
Dance, No One's Watching
Dance, No One's Watching
Title
Dance, No One's Watching
Details
Released: 27 September 2024 Label: Partisan Records Format: CD, digital download, vinyl
Peak chart positions
7
Title
Details
Peak chart positions
UK
You Can't Steal My Joy
Released: 26 April 2019 Label: Enter the Jungle Format: CD, digital download, vinyl
70
Where I'm Meant to Be
Released: 4 November 2022 Label: Partisan Records Format: CD, digital download, vinyl
24
Dance, No One's Watching
Released: 27 September 2024 Label: Partisan Records Format: CD, digital download, vinyl
7
· Awards and nominations
Organisation
Year
Work
Category
Result
Ref.
MOBO Awards
2022
Ezra Collective
Best Jazz Act
Won
Mercury Prize
2023
Where I'm Meant to Be
Album of the Year
Won
MOBO Awards
2024
Ezra Collective
Best Jazz Act
Won
BBC
2025
Ezra Collective
Sound of 2025
Second
Brit Awards
2025
Ezra Collective
Group Of The Year
Won

References

  1. npr.org
    https://text.npr.org/694090256
  2. The Observer
    https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/apr/28/ezra-collective-you-cant-steal-my-joy-review
  3. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/19/arts/music/ezra-collective-london-jazz-steam-down.html
  4. BBC Online
    https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-66728365
  5. Variety
    https://variety.com/2024/music/news/barack-obama-favorite-music-2024-kendrick-lamar-beyonce-billie-eilish-1236256932/
  6. Rolling Stone
    https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/barack-obama-favorite-music-2024-billie-eilish-kendrick-lamar-beyonce-1235214244/
  7. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cqx04vrlqn0o
  8. Loud And Quiet
    https://www.loudandquiet.com/interview/as-everyone-gets-hooked-on-jazz-ezra-collective-are-the-group-most-locked-into-a-groove/
  9. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/sep/01/loss-of-free-tuition-will-make-uk-jazz-whiter-posher-and-more-male
  10. "Ezra Collective, Afrobeat and Fela Kuti's legacy"
    https://pan-african-music.com/en/ezra-collective-afrobeat-fela-kuti/
  11. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/19/arts/music/ezra-collective-london-jazz-steam-down.html
  12. Complex
    https://www.complex.com/music/2019/04/ezra-collective-you-cant-steal-my-joy-review
  13. The Observer
    https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/nov/06/ezra-collective-where-im-meant-to-be-review-brilliant-follow-up-from-the-inventive-party-band
  14. Clash
    https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/ezra-collective-where-im-meant-to-be/
  15. Loud And Quiet
    https://www.loudandquiet.com/reviews/ezra-collective-where-im-meant-to-be/
  16. Radio Times
    https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/glastonbury-festival-2023-line-up-how-to-watch/
  17. BBC News
    https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-66728365
  18. BBC Music
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yJVHOPkC8w
  19. The Independent
    https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/ezra-collective-mercury-music-prize-winner-b2407696.html
  20. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/sep/08/vitality-diverse-britain-music-ezra-collective-deserve-mercury-prize
  21. ClashMusic
    https://www.clashmusic.com/features/ezra-collectives-mercury-win-highlights-the-need-for-cultural-investment/
  22. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/sep/07/ezra-collectives-mercury-win-finally-acknowledges-a-golden-age-for-uk-jazz
  23. The Independent
    https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/barack-obama-films-music-books-of-2024-b2668332.html
  24. BBC
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgx2w78ppwo
  25. Glastonbury Festivals
    https://glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/news/glastonbury-2025-line-up-so-far/
  26. "EZRA COLLECTIVE – Full Official Chart History"
    https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/55497/ezra-collective/
  27. Stereogum
    https://stereogum.com/2480246/ezra-collective-share-three-christmas-covers/music/
  28. www.mobo.com
    https://www.mobo.com/mobo-awards-2022
  29. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/music/2023/jul/27/mercury-prize-nominations-arctic-monkeys
  30. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/feb/07/mobo-awards-2024-central-cee-tops-winners-thanks-to-megahit-sprinter
  31. www.brits.co.uk
    https://www.brits.co.uk/winners/
Image
Source: —
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.