We were like, ‘this is ‘Thriller’ money’. Ryan was recently in residence with the BBC Symphony Orchestra as part of the Sound and Music… That party didn’t end… it was light before I got to my room.”, I ask them who else was at the celebration. Ezra Collective is an award-winning band born out of the Tomorrows Warriors youth jazz organisation who first emerged onto the scene in May 2012 when they were victorious in the Yamaha Jazz Experience competition. “That must have been a weird party!” saxophonist James laughs. As if struck by lightning, Femi sits up in his seat. Whereas once jazz was seen as stuck-up and over-intellectual, in London, and increasingly further afield, it’s a progressive part of youth culture – increasingly so since Kendrick released ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’ in 2015. As such, the group buzzes with that chemistry that’s unique to school mates. “Every time we roll anywhere, even when we’re not playing, just walking down the street as a team, it feels so sick.”. This event is now in the past - Ezra Collective at The Hare And Hounds on Monday, 12 Nov 2018 at 7:30 PM. On Twitter and Instagram last summer he shared a picture of himself, along with the rest of her band, chilling backstage with Snoop Dogg. Region North West Website: Follow Thirty Pound Gentleman on social media. Moses Boyd, a drummer, friend of the band and fellow Tomorrow’s Warriors graduate, has a residency on Radio 1Xtra. The Black Keys, The Wiltern, Los Angeles, CA. Hermon Mehari, Ezra Collective, Zappa for piano & New Releases article by Ludovico Granvassu, published on July 15, 2020 at All About Jazz. ... Ezra-Nehemiah and the Dead Sea Scrolls. “As we go forward it’s going to get harder and tougher,” Femi admits. The whole idea to record the cover in the first place was born when Ezra Collective performed Fula Kuti’s most loved hits at a Church of Sound show. “I looked at jazz in the same way a lot of people in the audience might,” he tells me. Grade 2 Listed community music venue in Kings Heath, Birmingham. “Glasper was playing at Ronnie Scott’s but covering J Dilla beats. The COVID-19 crisis has cut off our advertising revenue stream, which is how we’ve always funded how we promoted new independent artists. “We’ve had gigs where people are coming from three different continents to make an Ezra show,” Femi says matter-of-factly. Pizzas finished and plates cleared, the waiters start to hover in a way that suggests it’s time for our interview to end. “When people asked you what you were listening to, they didn’t want to hear John Coltrane they wanted to hear Skepta or HeadieOne.”. In the past couple of years they’ve gone from jazz-head obscurity to being featured in The New York Times and touring the world. The hint of exasperation in his voice suggests he’s only half-joking. While they have their criticisms of conservatoire education and the jazz establishment, the genre is still their first love. Kamaal Williams teamed up with grime MC Mez for a rework of the Yussef Kamaal track ‘Strings of Light’. Then Jorja [Smith] was gonna play Montreux jazz fest the next day, so we asked her to come up, and we played a version of ‘On My Mind’. He’s just got back from a date in Dublin, although Ryanair didn’t make the process easy. While we wait, the group’s manager, Amy, takes it upon herself to order seven people’s worth of pizza for the four of us who are here – myself, Amy, TJ and the group’s PR, Ben. The day before our interview, the group announced their debut album to the world and shared lead single ‘Quest for Coin’. Minimum Age: 14. “Can you imagine the brers that turn up there? “When that offer came in, I thought we’d made it, but the moment we put our instruments down we realised there was more.”. Femi and Joe both play in saxophonist Nubya Garcia’s band, James plays in several other projects, as does Dylan, and Joe has already sold out Village Underground as a solo artist. Even when the blistering free-jazz solos of second track ‘Why You Mad?’ are at their peak the band never misses a beat. ... Mason Collective. It’s an approach that underpins not just Ezra Collective’s sound but the sound of London’s young jazz scene as a whole. “A lot of musicians will tell you that when they’re in a sad place it helps them make music, but for us, it’s the opposite,” says Joe. “This hotel was co-rect! So, it started from there. On ‘You Can’t Steal My Joy’, the band only improve on that grove-centric approach. There’s little doubt that Ezra Collective is the prime example of this. “Everyone has an emotion or feeling that they evoke. It set the band down the road of combing their influences. I love the way this city invites my girl to dream, play, and explore. 60 gigs listed (see below) Select Follow to sign up for a FREE music lover account and add this venue to your personal gig list . Amy Byrd is a Girls Minister in Birmingham, AL. Ezra Collective have been on the rise for sometime now. Birmingham legend Mike Skinner is set to play Parklife 2019 with his ... will also welcome Cardi B and chart-topping singer songwriter George Ezra. “Mos Def jumped up; that was pretty cool…” TJ says absent-mindedly. One moment, you will be redirected shortly. Like the best of friendship groups, the members of Ezra Collective aren’t afraid to show their appreciation for one another. While the group aren’t shy about their successes, they’re not ones to rest on their laurels either. As soon as the group are all together jokes fly and stories are swapped. “I really like ‘Caravan’, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like ‘No Security’ by Skepta, how do I get the two in the same song? “To be honest, the moment you say that you’re a jazz band and more than eight people show up, that means there are no boundaries…” Femi laughs. North Base. Ezra Collective. Safe to say that life has been good to Ezra Collective recently. The Resonant Rogues - The Resonant Rogues- Waiting for the Rain 2. Their approach is one that seeks to reform the jazz establishment, not reject it. “Quincy sits right in the front row,” he continues, “so you know if it’s going well or not. Ezra Collective The Hare And Hounds. Saturday 30th November 2019. Last Wave Collective DIY music and art collective/ distro/ booking in Birmingham, Al. Coffee Birmingham teamed up with official Birmingham #jelly organiser Rickie Josen and our sponsors, Enterprise Nation to run the #superjelly at three venues across the city – Urban Coffee Company in the Jewellery Quarter (as per usual) but also Six Eight Kafe in the city centre and Cafe Ezra … Following on from the success of the autumn Jazz Series in partnership with Leftfoot we welcome back Ezra Collective keyboard player and producer Joe Armon -Jones. Taken at the end of the group’s sold-out show at KOKO in late 2018, it features all five of them, arms around each other, sweaty and revelling in the biggest show of their career. This led to an award which saw Ezra supporting Terence … As teenagers growing up listening to Duke Ellington and watching Chris Dave videos on YouTube, their passion could isolate them from their peers at times. Contact Danny Hammons at: [email protected] DIY Planet; A Compilation of DIY Folk Music by Goathead/ Last Wave, released 04 January 2014 1. As the album’s release draws closer the thing that excites them most is that it will allow them to do more. Femi picks their headline show at Ronnie Scott’s; TJ their show at Islington Assembly Hall. It’s a result and celebration of everything that makes the London jazz scene so unique right now. 7:00pm til 11:00pm. If you enjoy our articles, photography and podcasts, please consider becoming a subscribing member. Amy loves all things girls ministry and has authored a few LifeWay Girls Bible studies. While the group’s previous EPs, ‘Chapter 7’ and ‘Juan Pablo The Philosopher’, have been essential to their success, ‘You Can’t Steal My Joy’ feels like the first record that truly defines what Ezra Collective is about. Privacy Policy | We do not sell or share your personal information | © 2020 All About Jazz. !” he shouts, kissing his teeth for emphasis. Having either grown up across London or spent a lot of time in the city thanks to Tomorrow’s Warriors, the members of Ezra Collective are as united by their love for grime, soul and hip hop as they are by their passion for jazz. 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