Ezra Collective

Ezra Collective Bio

Ezra Collective is a jazz quintet from South London, England. The 5-member band consists of Femi Koleoso on drums, Joe Armon-Jones on keys, TJ Koleoso on bass, Dylan Jones on trumpet and James Mollison on saxophone. Led by Femi Koleoso, who is also Jorja Smith’s long time drummer, met his current band members in 2012 at a jazz youth group program called Tomorrow’s Warriors where the conception of the Ezra Collective began. This then led to quintet’s win at the Yamaha Jazz Experience Competition. The group’s synergy led to the collective’s first self-released EP in 2016 titled ‘Chapter 7’ which was then followed by another EP, ‘Juan Pablo the Philosopher’ in 2018. Their EP won Best Jazz Album by Gilles Peterson’s Worldwide FM Awards in the same year. NPR praises the collective, stating that the “Ezra Collective is breathing new life into one of music’s greatest institutions”. Known afro-beat & hip-hop influenced jazz tracks, the Ezra Collective released their debut album, ‘You Can’t Steal My Joy’ in 2019 with features from popular UK artists such as Jorja Smith, Loyle Carner and KOKOROKO. Their most popular track off the album, ‘What Am I To Do?’, has o Loyle Carner ver 6 million plays on Spotify. Complex regards Ezra Collective’s sound to have “ever-expanding, creative rhythms” on their debut album. Music broadcaster Boiler Room states the Ezra Collective are “pioneering the new-wave of UK Jazz music”. ‘You Can’t Steal My Joy’ is listed on Rough Trade’s ‘Albums of the Year – 2019’.