The members of British jazz quintet Ezra Collective have their hearts in the right place.
I meet the musicians – drummer Femi Koleoso, 30, his bassist brother TJ, 29, keyboardist Joe Armon-Jones, 32, trumpeter Ife Ogunjobi, 24, and saxophonist James Mollison, 32 – at the end of a busy day of shooting their 10 Men cover story. The room makes you feel drowsy, as it’s being gently warmed by a mosaic of bright box lights used to illuminate each photo, their glow spilling over into the otherwise dimly lit set.
I don’t doubt they’ve had a long and pretty tiring day: there are leftovers of takeaway sandwiches in the bin and the remnants of multiple coffee runs that are tidily tucked next to sofas to prove it. I sit down with Femi first; he’s a confident, yet laid-back, North Londoner who assumes the role of the band’s unofficial spokesperson. Joe joins slightly later, then James, then TJ, then Ife, each taking the chance to come and sit during the small slices of time they’re afforded between shots. They’re all tall, well built and, despite the draining nature of their eight-hour photoshoot, polite, down to earth and understatedly warm.
This grounded composure quickly disarms any intimidation one might feel in the face of the history-making success that precedes them. Known for their vibrant and infectious style of jazz that blends Afrobeats, calypso, jungle, dancehall and more, the group has captured the hearts of music lovers worldwide and accumulated accolades that speak for themselves. Eleven years after they first played as Ezra Collective, the band won the coveted 2023 Mercury Prize for their 14-track masterpiece Where I’m Meant to Be, making them the first jazz group to do it since the award was created in 1992. They’ve captivated crowds at festivals like All Points East, Boomtown and Glastonbury (twice), and were the first UK jazz band to headline the OVO Wembley Arena back in November.
from left: TJ wears jacket by KENZO, top by AMI, trousers by FEAR OF GOD, rings by TOM WOOD; James wears jacket and shirt by WOOYOUNGMI; Femi wears coat by AHLUWALIA, necklace by 886 BY THE ROYAL MINT, sunglasses by CARTIER; Joe wears suit by VIVIENNE WESTWOOD, brooch by CARTIER; Ife wears blazer, shirt and tie by MOSCHINO, ring by MESSIKA, sunglasses by VINTAGE FRAMES COMPANY
With them travelling the globe to perform, an Ezra Collective highlights reel might include their show at Fela Kuti’s fabled New Afrika Shrine in Lagos, a 2024 tour where they captivated crowds across Europe and their debut performances in South America earlier this year. Brushing shoulders with their Mercury Prize stands a Best Jazz Act award from the 2022 MOBOs and a Rolling Stone UK 2024 Group Award, which, while accepting, the group took the chance to highlight the importance of independent music venues. “The band was built on places like the Southbank Centre, Hammersmith Apollo, Brixton Academy and everywhere in between,” says Femi, explaining why they wanted this to be the focus. “Music isn’t meant to be a secret – you have to give it away. These places allow you to share it.”
If independent music venues were the foundation, then the music itself was the bricks and mortar in the construction of Ezra Collective’s swelling stardom. Glance at a list of the group’s artistic inspirations and it looks a little like a tasting menu detailing some of the most revered delicacies across musical history. Fela Kuti’s Zombie, D’Angelo’s Voodoo, Bob Marley’s Natty Dread, A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory and Robert Glasper’s Black Radio all assume key roles, as do club nights like the University of Dub – a slice of the UK’s sound-system history where legends like Channel One, Aba Shanti-I and Iration Steppas have all played. “It was a mix of all these influences coming together alongside new ones,” says Femi when I asked about how the band developed its eclectic cross-genre style. “We haven’t really thrown away any tunes we used to play,” Joe adds. “It’s more about refining and adding different sounds into the mix. We used to have a playlist where everyone would add an album and then we’d all try to learn the music. That built a collective understanding of everyone’s tastes.”
from left: from left: TJ wears jacket by KENZO, top by AMI, trousers by FEAR OF GOD, rings by TOM WOOD; James wears jacket and shirt by WOOYOUNGMI, trousers by MANIERE DE VOIR, shoes by AXEL ARIGATO; Femi wears coat by AHLUWALIA, necklace by 886 BY THE ROYAL MINT, sunglasses by CARTIER; Ife wears blazer, shirt and tie by MOSCHINO, ring by MESSIKA, sunglasses by VINTAGE FRAMES COMPANY; Joe wears suit and top by VIVIENNE WESTWOOD, brooch by CARTIER and from left: Ife wears jacket and trousers by TONDOLO, top by MAHARISHI, shoes by AXEL ARIGATO; James wears jacket by LATE CHECKOUT, top by WALES BONNER; TJ wears MARTINE ROSE, rings by TOM WOOD; Femi wears top by KENZO, necklace by 886 BY THE ROYAL MINT; Joe wears jacket and trousers by STONE ISLAND, shoes by CLARKS
That playlist, and the exchange of music in general, symbolises to Ezra Collective what breakfast in bed might symbolise to the rest of us. “Sharing music is like an act of love,” says Femi, brimming with passion. “When someone says, ‘I love this record, I want you to hear it,’ it means something.” This sonic bond is also a big reason the group rarely has any internal conflicts. “We’ve all had moments where someone in the band has shared a song that changed our lives,” says Femi. “It builds a deep respect for everyone’s musical opinions. Even if we disagree, there’s that foundation.”
Having this constant exchange has formed a key part of the band’s creative process, catalysed by their boundless curiosity. “I think loving music is like loving any art – it changes and grows with you,” says Femi. “When we started the band, Tems didn’t exist to us. Now she does and that influences us. Or artists like Nia Smith or Sasha Keable, they’re inspiring us now. But ‘new’ doesn’t always mean recent. Last night, I was listening to Lord Kitchener [calypso] records from the ’50s and ’60s that I’d never heard before. That’s a new sound for me. It’s always evolving like that.”
With passion and expertise being the bread and butter of most professional musicians, what really sets Ezra Collective apart is their relentless pursuit of joy and desire for authentic human connection. It’s a philosophy that drenches their rip-roaring live sets and infuses their tracks with a fizzing, infectious energy, though not always in the ways you might think. “High energy can mean different things,” says Joe. “When I was younger, I thought it meant playing lots of notes fast and loudly. As I’ve grown, I’ve realised high energy can also come from a moment of peace. It’s more about the connection with the audience. That’s what we value as a band.”
from left: James wears WOOYOUNGMI and TJ wears jacket by KENZO, top by AMI
If high energy is what Ezra Collective want, then they’ve been massively spoiled these past few years. A crowd at one of their gigs doesn’t stay still; it jumps, twirls and smiles from ear to ear in a bubbling mass of kinetic spirit. The band’s secret sauce? Staying authentic. “At some gigs, you’re looking at the person on stage and it almost feels like a worship environment,” says Joe. “Our gigs don’t lean in that direction… We don’t go on stage trying to be someone else. By being ourselves, we encourage others to be themselves, which creates a safe space for everyone.”
This safe, non-judgmental temple of joy isn’t inevitable, it’s the result of a series of purposeful decisions consciously implemented by the whole group. Their shows often start with them encouraging ticketholders to look to their neighbours and introduce themselves. The phrase “Ezra Collective is dancing with…” sits proudly on the big screen behind every stage they spring onto. Audience participation is encouraged, with rousing crescendos mirrored by crowds that crouch as they build and burst back up as it breaks, like a soufflé bubbling over with a sense of unity and togetherness. Sometimes, James, TJ or Ife will caper into the audience’s beating heart, instruments and all, to dance shoulder to shoulder with everyone in it. The results are tangible examples of what can happen when people embrace authenticity and revel in the joy of the moment. “We’ve met people who became friends at gigs,” says TJ. “There are a lot of babies called Ezra,” laughs Femi.
Baby-making aside, there’s a real meditative power when it comes to an Ezra Collective performance. A gig that is designed to uplift gives you the chance to forget your woes and just have a good ol’ time. It’s respite for the mind and a release for the body. “I love how a stage, a concert and music can take you out of whatever situation you’re in. It’s a very powerful thing,” says Femi. “I’m not saying the next 90 minutes will fix your life, but it will feel better if you share that moment with us.”
from left: Joe wears jacket and top by VIVIENNE WESTWOOD, brooch by CARTIER and Ife wears blazer, shirt and tie by MOSCHINO, sunglasses by VINTAGE FRAMES COMPANY
“Just people being in a room together is so important for your mental health,” says Joe. “It became even clearer after lockdown,” adds TJ. “There was so much isolation and it wrecked people’s minds… We were always about joy, but for me, there was a reconviction. The intensity we bring to every show now is intentional. There are no off days. We’re aware someone in the audience might be struggling and that connection is vital.”
The band’s desire to spread this message is woven into the fabric of their discography. On Where I’m Meant to Be’s track Words by TJ, the bassist recounted a weeping fan who explained to him how, after a distressing week, an Ezra Collective set provided an hour of much-needed mental relief. “At that moment, music changed for me,” he says. “I realised this wasn’t just notes being put together, this is something with some serious power to change people in a serious way.” The group’s most recent album, Dance, No One’s Watching, released last September, was an extension of this ethos. Focused on tearing down impostor syndrome and our culture of comparison, the 19-track pick-me-up serves as the band’s encouragement to not let judgement rob you of a carefree and happy life. “As a band centred around joy, an album that’s anti-insecurity felt necessary,” says TJ.
Being part of Ezra Collective has also allowed each band member to learn about the power of human connection when it comes to their relationships with each other. “If you’re feeling a certain way, someone else isn’t. And you let them lean on it. There’s no frontman, it’s frontmen,” says Femi. “Sometimes I don’t feel like I’ve got it. It’s fine, someone else does. And then at some point, one of them might not feel like they’ve got it and that’s when I take the beating for them.”
This also comes into play when they are honing their skills as individual musicians. “Every moment I spend practising, I focus on improving my listening skills,” says Femi. “For me, how much better I am at the drums is measured by how well I can make someone else sound.” Likening this to having a meaningful conversation, Joe adds, “Most of it is listening rather than speaking all the time. Finding that balance is key.”
Femi wears coat by AHLUWALIA, necklace by 886 BY THE ROYAL MINT, sunglasses by CARTIER
By this point in our conversation, one thing is abundantly clear: nothing Ezra Collective do is random or aimless. Everything is intentional and undeniably rooted in a commitment to uplifting others. It’s a doctrine that spills over into their work with youth groups like Kinetika Bloco: in 2023, 30 young musicians were invited by the band to play with them on stage at Glastonbury. Asked to explain the key tenets of what supporting and inspiring young people means to them, Femi says it’s all about “being visible, present and accessible. You want to be someone who can be seen. And by being seen, I mean not charging £100 for tickets, because you won’t be seen by younger musicians. It’s a shame when heroes of mine are completely inaccessible. You don’t inspire younger people that way.”
Femi has an errand to run bang on 6pm, so he quickly dips out just before we finish, politely thanking me before he hurries off to get changed. There’s a reshuffling and, much like when they fill in the gaps for each other on stage, TJ sits to answer the final question about what the group hope listeners will remember when, years from now, they listen to their music. “A sense of joy and optimism,” he replies with the tone of someone confident in their purpose, but in true Ezra Collective style, it goes much deeper than that. “I’d love to leave a legacy of giving – looking at what you have and doing what you can with that to bless someone else. It transcends the talented and the elite among us. Everyone has the ability to bless someone else with what they have. If everyone did that, the world would be a better place.” As he answers, I remember another award-accepting sentiment favoured by the group. “EZ to the world”, they often shout, and after getting a glimpse of what that EZ represents – heart, humility, intention and joy – I know it’s something the world could use a little more of.
Taken from 10 Men Issue 61 – MUSIC, TALENT, CREATIVE – on newsstands March 24. Pre-order your copy here.
EZRA COLLECTIVE: PLAYING WITH HEAT
Photographer DAVID HUGHES
Fashion Editor NATALIE ROAR
Talents JAMES MOLLISON, FEMI KOLEOSO, TJ KOLEOSO, JOE ARMON-JONES and IFE OGUNJOBI, aka EZRA COLLECTIVE
Text BELLA KOOPMAN
Hair WES CHURCHILL
Make-up OLIVIA COCHRANE at Werth Represents using M.A.C COSMETICS
Digital operator OSCAR ECKEL
Photographer’s assistant OKUS MILSOM
Fashion assistants IZABELLE PULLIN, ANASTASIE TSHICHIMBI and SIMRAN LALITA
Production ZAC APOSTOLOU and SONYA MAZURYK
Special thanks to EBI SAMPSON and JAMES CUNNINGHAM
On the cover TJ wears jacket by KENZO, top by AMI, trousers by FEAR OF GOD, rings by TOM WOOD; James wears jacket and shirt by WOOYOUNGMI, trousers by MANIERE DE VOIR, shoes by AXEL ARIGATO; Femi wears coat by AHLUWALIA, necklace by 886 BY THE ROYAL MINT, sunglasses by CARTIER; Ife wears blazer, shirt and tie by MOSCHINO, ring by MESSIKA, sunglasses by VINTAGE FRAMES COMPANY; Joe wears suit and top by VIVIENNE WESTWOOD, brooch by CARTIER
