Imagine being part of a creative explosion that's igniting British jazz on an international scale – welcome to the world of Ezra Collective! With their forthcoming fourth album, 'Here Because of Hope', set to drop in September, this trailblazing quintet is gearing up to leave an indelible mark on the music landscape. At a recent Guardian Live event at Sussex's Love Supreme festival, band members Femi Koleoso and James Mollison took centre stage to share their vision for British music, drawing from their rich experiences as pioneers of the jazz scene.
The conversation was electric, veering seamlessly from their love of diverse dancefloor experiences to the pivotal moments that have shaped their careers. For Mollison, it's the memory of East London's Passing Clouds, where club nights and live performances blended in perfect harmony – a space where he found his creative footing. Koleoso, meanwhile, speaks fondly of North London's University of Dub night at the Scala, which introduced him to the Afrobeat innovator Tony Allen, a collaborator of Fela Kuti who would later become his mentor.
Koleoso's unique bond with Allen was forged in an unlikely setting – The Haggerston pub, where a jazz jam ran concurrently with a disco night. It was here that the seeds for their long-term collaboration were sown, and overnight Megabus journeys from London to Paris became a regular occurrence as Koleoso soaked up the lessons of his legendary mentor. Allen's teaching philosophy, centred on 'taking things away' rather than adding to his playing, had a profound impact on Koleoso, who still revisits recordings of their sessions for inspiration.
From homecoming shows in London to the frenetic energy of Fela Kuti's Shrine in Lagos, Nigeria, and the vibrant Fuji Rock festival in Japan, Ezra Collective has performed at some of the world's most iconic venues. But it's the intensity of performing at The Shrine that still leaves its mark on Koleoso – "it ages you about a decade", he quips, while Mollison remembers unleashing 'chaos' on an unsuspecting crowd in Tokyo.
As champions of grassroots arts support and youth clubs in the UK, Ezra Collective has been vocal in their criticism of budget cuts affecting young musicians. Koleoso stresses individual responsibility, urging his peers to "see ourselves as pillars of the community... We need to take it upon ourselves to be that change, rather than wait for institutions to act." This mindset shift is crucial, he believes – and one that will shape the band's advocacy efforts in years to come.
On their new album, 'Here Because of Hope', Ezra Collective has shifted gears thematically. While their music often exudes joy, this latest release aims to confront pain head-on. Koleoso reveals, "There have been moments of devastating pain felt across the band in recent years," hinting at a deeper emotional exploration within their upcoming work – one that promises to be just as groundbreaking as everything they've done before.