Review: Ezra Collective @ SWX
By Luc Gauci Green, Third Year English and History
Ezra Collective, established in 2016, have been doing this for a while, which shows through in their laid-back demeanour, simply enjoying the music and dancing. After being the first jazz act to win the Mercury Prize in 31 years in 2023, I think it’s safe to say that they’re well established in their field.
Probably the most important thing to note is the way that the collective were formed: through a youth group called Tomorrow’s Warriors, who help kids get into jazz no matter their background. They are a charity who have kickstarted so many talented bands and artists, even earning a stage at prominent jazz festival We Out Here for up-and-coming artists.
Artists like Nubya Garcia, Moses Boyd, and more have all come from the charity. It wouldn’t be right to mention Ezra Collective without the due respect for the work that Tomorrow’s Warriors do.
Encompassing a range of genres like afrobeat, hip-hop, and soul, it feels limiting to class Ezra Collective as just jazz. Taking inspiration from afrobeat and especially Fela Kuti, Ezra Collective encompasses an eclectic fusion of music made for dancing. They have collaborated with artists like Yazmin Lacey, Loyle Carner, Nubya Garcia, and Moses Boyd, operating beyond the confines of a jazz quintet.
The group are currently touring their brand new album Dance, No One’s Watching, which seems to be going around the UK twice and to many European cities, so if you’re planning to see them (which you should be), you’ll be spoilt for choice. All eyes are on their return to Bristol on 13th-14th November…
My personal experience of Ezra Collective is purely through my sister. She’s a huge jazz fan and a fan of Ezra Collective more specifically, seeing them multiple times at festivals and concerts.
So for me, Ezra Collective’s music brings fond memories of evenings cooking together and grooving. It has become the soundtrack of all kitchen activities for us, making even the washing up bearable.
Entering the gig, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of people already in SWX, more than an hour before Ezra Collective were set to come out. Their eagerness explains the collective buzz and excitement you could feel around the venue.
The atmosphere from the off was fantastic. Ezra Collective hit the stage to a wave of screams, whoops, and shouts so loud you wondered if they could hear themselves play. Luckily, the crowd’s energy didn’t end there; with vigorous jumping, dancing, and general movement to the infectious rhythms of the collective.
They were on top form throughout the show, and it couldn’t have been to a more deserving group. Ezra Collective have supremely enjoyable music but, what comes across most, is that they truly enjoy playing their music to the grateful masses.
With a laid-back but fully enthused manner, they occupy their positions on stage and simply appreciate the amazing music that each member contributes to the group. I get the sense they would act the same way whether they were in front of the nearly 2,000-strong crowd at SWX or in front of no one at all, because they just love music and love performing even more.
The music truly comes to life in a live setting as each member adds beautiful depth and individual sound to their masterful cacophony of music. From crooning melodies to upbeat rhythms to a spectacular range of solos, Ezra Collective displayed all the wonder in their genre-bending jazz.
Playful tunes made for dancing, like ‘God Gave Me Feet For Dancing’, ‘Palm Wine’ and ‘No One’s Watching Me’, are key to what their new album is about. Bandleader Femi Koleoso explains that this album is based on their experiences on tour and all the many dancefloors they’ve seen.
Dance, No One’s Watching is truly a love letter to the dancefloor, and I don’t think it could have been represented better than at SWX. The band also showed a lot of love to Bristol and its importance to them throughout their career, being like a ‘second home’.
There is no higher praise for the city than Koleoso’s statement that ‘Without Bristol, Ezra Collective would not be Ezra Collective’, as it was where Ezra Collective had their first show ever outside of London. It felt like a real full-circle moment for the band, returning after a world tour and a history-making Mercury Prize win.
The climax of the high-energy show was surely when bassist TJ Koleoso, trumpeter Ife Ogunjobi, and saxophonist James Mollison jumped down into the middle of the crowd and played right in front of us. I was beyond giddy, hearing them play with just as much skill and grace as before, all the while being inches away from me and the bustling fans.
The energy of the crowd, much like myself, had reached a new level, which was topped off with an even more energetic and rich closing number. One of the highlights has to be the pianist Joe Armon-Jones. A master on the keys with facial expressions to match, he has a crazy discography of solo work, band work, and collaborations.
Not a single lyric was sung by the band, but their energy and love for music and dancing was imprinted on everyone’s minds. This album was truly for the dancefloor, to be heard live in a dancing crowd. We left with a feeling of elation, unable to really take in what we had just experienced and the lasting high that came with us. It was a great crowd for an even greater band.
Overall, I felt unbelievably lucky to have the chance to experience musical greatness in the form of Ezra Collective. The show was a continuous highlight with no weak points. They were such a smooth and well-oiled symphony, while also displaying the individuality, flexibility, and creativity of truly talented jazz musicians.
Featured Image: Ruby May CarverWhat is your favorite song from their album?